Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesian School Collapse Fatalities Increases to 54

News Agency

The number of fatalities from the collapse of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve missing individuals.

Hundreds students, primarily adolescent males, had gathered for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when the structure collapsed while undergoing construction.

The country's emergency management authority describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals ensnared under debris by evening.

Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure

Authorities are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an inadequate base.

"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.

The total count encompasses at least two individuals who were rescued from the rubble but subsequently died in medical care.

School Background and Regulatory Concerns

The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.

Numerous pesantren operate without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the institution had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.

Operational Difficulties

Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the structure collapsed, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to operate within, officials stated last week.

Eyewitness Reports

Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.

One teenage eyewitness described first "hearing the sound of falling rocks", which "grew louder and more intense".

The adolescent quickly rushed for the exit, and while he successfully got out, he was injured by falling debris from the roof.