Tragedy Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Collapse Death Toll Increases to 54
Media Source
The death count from the collapse of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Hundreds pupils, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the structure collapsed while undergoing construction.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the nation's deadliest disaster this year. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their search operation for 13 victims trapped beneath the rubble by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause
Investigators are still examining the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-storey building caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims 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 later died in medical care.
Institutional Context and Oversight Issues
The institution is a conventional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous Islamic schools function informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have faced difficulties due to the way the structure fell, leaving only narrow voids for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities stated previously.
Survivor Accounts
Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One teenage eyewitness described first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".
The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.
