Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia School Collapse Death Toll Increases to 54
Media Source
The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for thirteen individuals ensnared under debris by day's end.
Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been 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 extracted from the debris but later died in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure fell, leaving only tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have shared their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets.
One teenage survivor recalled first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by collapsing materials from the roof.