Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia School Structural Failure Death Toll 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 emergency responders continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.

Hundreds pupils, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the building gave way while being renovated.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by evening.

Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure

Authorities are still examining the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure caved in 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 disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.

The total count encompasses at least two people who were rescued from the debris but subsequently succumbed in hospital.

School Background and Regulatory Concerns

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

Numerous pesantren operate without formal oversight, lacking strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the school had necessary permits to conduct additional construction.

Rescue Challenges

Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the structure collapsed, creating tight spaces for rescuers to maneuver within, officials reported last week.

Eyewitness Reports

Survivors have shared their harrowing escape experiences with local media.

One 13-year-old eyewitness described first "noticing the noise of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".

The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.