Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.
Numerous pupils, mostly adolescent males, had assembled for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's deadliest disaster this year. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped under debris by evening.
Probe Underway into Structural Failure
Authorities are still examining the reason behind the collapse. Some officials indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but later died in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren function without formal oversight, without strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to undertake additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the structure fell, creating tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have shared their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage survivor described first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
