Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian School Collapse Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Numerous students, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by day's end.
Probe Underway into Structural Failure
Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but subsequently died in hospital.
School Background and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the manner the structure collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities reported previously.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by collapsing materials from the roof.
