Catastrophe Worsens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Fatalities Rises to 54
News Agency
The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with rescue teams still looking for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous pupils, mostly adolescent males, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in East Java when the building gave way while being renovated.
The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe this year. Emergency workers are expected to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims ensnared under debris by evening.
Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure
Investigators are still examining the reason behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an unstable foundation.
"Among 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 includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later succumbed in hospital.
Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns
The institution is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.
Many Islamic schools function informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains uncertain whether the institution had necessary permits to undertake building modifications.
Operational Difficulties
Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the way the structure collapsed, leaving only tight spaces for rescuers to operate within, officials stated previously.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old survivor described first "noticing the noise of collapsing materials", which "intensified and more intense".
The young person immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the roof.
