Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54
Media Source
The death count from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Numerous pupils, mostly adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by day's end.
Probe Underway into Collapse Cause
Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but later succumbed in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Many pesantren function without formal oversight, lacking comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had proper authorization to conduct building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The young person quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by collapsing materials from the roof.
