Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54

News Agency

The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve missing individuals.

Numerous pupils, primarily teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are anticipated to conclude their search operation for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by day's end.

Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure

Investigators are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Certain authorities suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an inadequate base.

"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.

The overall number includes at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but subsequently 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 operate without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.

Rescue Challenges

Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities reported previously.

Eyewitness Reports

Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.

One teenage survivor recalled first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".

The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by collapsing materials from the ceiling.