Tragedy Deepens 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 escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Numerous pupils, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-storey building caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but subsequently died in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the manner the building fell, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, officials reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have shared their terrifying escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
