Tragedy Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Collapse Death Toll Increases to 54
Media Source
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Hundreds students, mostly adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the country's most fatal disaster this year. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals ensnared beneath the rubble by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure
Authorities are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities suggested the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count includes at least two people who were rescued from the debris but subsequently succumbed in hospital.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many pesantren operate without formal oversight, lacking strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.
Rescue Challenges
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, creating narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities reported previously.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their terrifying escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old survivor described first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The young person immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the ceiling.
