Tragedy Deepens as Indonesian School Collapse Death Toll Rises to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous students, primarily teenage boys, had assembled for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's deadliest disaster this year. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Authorities are still examining the reason behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later died in hospital.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many pesantren operate informally, without strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the way the structure fell, creating tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, officials stated last week.
Survivor Accounts
Those who escaped have shared their terrifying survival stories with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
