Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals.
Numerous pupils, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.
The country's emergency management authority describes this as the country's deadliest catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for thirteen individuals ensnared under debris by day's end.
Investigation Underway 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 numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.
The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The facility is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate informally, lacking strong regulation or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the way the building collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with local media.
One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "noticing the sound of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by falling debris from the ceiling.
