Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
Media Source
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 still looking for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous pupils, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's deadliest disaster this year. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals ensnared under debris by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The total count includes at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools operate without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials stated previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old survivor described first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
