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News Agency

The number of fatalities from the structural failure of an Indonesian school has escalated to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve missing individuals.

Hundreds pupils, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building gave way while undergoing construction.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency describes this as the nation's most fatal disaster in 2025. Rescue personnel are anticipated to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped under debris by evening.

Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure

Authorities are continuing to probe the cause behind the collapse. Certain authorities indicated the two-storey building collapsed due to an unstable foundation.

"Among all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.

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

School Background and Regulatory Concerns

The facility is a conventional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia, referred to as a pesantren.

Many Islamic schools function informally, lacking comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.

Rescue Challenges

Search and rescue operations have proven challenging due to the manner the building fell, creating tight spaces for emergency personnel to maneuver within, authorities stated previously.

Eyewitness Reports

Survivors have shared their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.

One 13-year-old survivor recalled first "hearing the noise of falling rocks", which "grew louder and louder".

The adolescent quickly rushed for the doorway, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.