Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian School Collapse Death Toll Rises to 54

Fallen school building — Hundreds adolescent males had gathered for religious observances at the Islamic boarding school in East Java when it collapsed last Monday

The death count from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for more than a dozen missing individuals.

Hundreds pupils, mostly teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction.

The country's emergency management authority characterizes this as the country's deadliest disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to complete their rescue mission for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by evening.

Probe Ongoing into Collapse Cause

Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an inadequate base.

"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," declared a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference.

The overall number encompasses at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later succumbed in medical care.

Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns

The facility is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.

Many Islamic schools operate informally, without comprehensive oversight or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the school had proper authorization to undertake additional construction.

Rescue Challenges

Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building fell, leaving only narrow voids for rescuers to operate within, officials reported previously.