Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution 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 rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by evening.
Probe Underway into Collapse Cause
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-level structure caved in due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were extracted from the debris but later succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools function without formal oversight, without 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 narrow voids for rescuers to operate within, officials stated last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
