Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian School Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Hundreds students, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their search operation for 13 victims trapped under debris by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Investigators are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The overall number includes at least two people who were extracted from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the structure fell, creating narrow voids for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their terrifying survival stories with local media.
One teenage eyewitness described first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
