Tragedy Worsens as Indonesia School Structural Failure Fatalities 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 still looking for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous pupils, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their search operation for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes 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 overall number encompasses 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 Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function without formal oversight, without strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials stated last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness described first "noticing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
