Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian School Structural Failure 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 emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by day's end.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Some officials suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later died in medical care.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function informally, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to undertake additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the manner the structure collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have shared their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by falling debris from the ceiling.
