Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54
News Agency
The death count from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams still looking for over twelve missing individuals.
Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the nation's deadliest disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their search operation for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count encompasses at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the building fell, creating tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old survivor described first "noticing the noise of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the ceiling.
