Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian School Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
News Agency
The death count from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Hundreds students, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals ensnared under debris by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Authorities are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were extracted from the rubble but later succumbed in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the structure fell, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The young person immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
