Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for religious services at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building gave way while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to conclude their search operation for 13 victims trapped under debris by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-level structure collapsed 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 incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to undertake building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building fell, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their harrowing survival stories with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "noticing the noise of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
