Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian 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 continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Hundreds students, mostly adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the building gave way while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster this year. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped under debris by day's end.
Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure
Authorities are still examining the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-storey building caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number includes at least two people who were extracted from the rubble but later died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities stated previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness described first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
