Tragedy Deepens as Indonesia School Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54

Collapsed school building — Numerous adolescent males had gathered for religious observances at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when it gave way recently

The death count from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has climbed to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen unaccounted persons.

Numerous students, primarily teenage boys, had assembled 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 nation's deadliest disaster in 2025. Emergency workers are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped beneath the rubble by day's end.

Investigation Underway into Structural Failure

Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-storey building caved in due to an inadequate base.

"Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," declared a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a media briefing.

The overall number encompasses at least two people who were extracted from the debris but subsequently succumbed in medical care.

School Background and Oversight Issues

The institution is a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.

Many Islamic schools function informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the institution had proper authorization to conduct additional construction.

Operational Difficulties

Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building fell, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.