Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian School Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The death count from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many pesantren operate informally, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the structure fell, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage survivor described first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The young person quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
