Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia School Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities 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 over twelve missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the country's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by evening.
Investigation Underway into Structural Failure
Investigators are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Among all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.
The overall number includes at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently succumbed in hospital.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools function informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the building collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, officials stated last week.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have shared their terrifying escape experiences with local media.
One teenage eyewitness recalled first "noticing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.
