Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesian School Collapse Death Toll Increases to 54

News Agency

The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.

Hundreds students, mostly adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in East Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared beneath the rubble by day's end.

Investigation Ongoing into Collapse Cause

Investigators are still examining the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials 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 numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a media briefing.

The total count includes at least two people who were extracted from the debris but subsequently succumbed in medical care.

Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns

The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.

Many pesantren function without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.

Rescue Challenges

Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the building collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials reported last week.

Survivor Accounts

Those who escaped have shared their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.

One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".

The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.