Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams still looking for over twelve missing individuals.
Numerous pupils, primarily teenage boys, had assembled for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Emergency workers are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped under debris by evening.
Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The overall number includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later died in hospital.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools operate without formal oversight, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to undertake additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, officials stated last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "hearing the noise of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person quickly rushed for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
