Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian School Collapse Death Toll Rises to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds students, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are still examining the reason behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-storey building caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but later died in hospital.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, without strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the manner the structure fell, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, officials stated previously.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their terrifying survival stories with local media.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
