Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
Media Source
The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds pupils, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure 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 incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number includes at least two people who were extracted from the debris but later died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren operate without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the structure fell, creating tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, authorities reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage survivor described first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The young person quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
