🔗 Share this article Tragedy Worsens as Indonesian Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Rises to 54 Media Source Numerous teenage boys had assembled 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 educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with rescue teams continuing their search for more than a dozen missing individuals. Numerous pupils, mostly teenage boys, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while undergoing construction. Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the nation's most fatal catastrophe in 2025. Rescue personnel are expected to conclude their rescue mission for 13 victims trapped under debris by evening. Investigation Ongoing into Structural Failure Investigators are continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure collapsed due to an unstable foundation. "Among all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as numerous fatalities as the ones in Sidoarjo," stated a deputy from the emergency management authority during a press conference. The overall number includes at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later succumbed in hospital. School Background and Regulatory Concerns The facility is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren. Many Islamic schools operate informally, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. 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 manner the building collapsed, leaving only narrow voids for rescuers to maneuver within, officials stated last week. Survivor Accounts Those who escaped have recounted their harrowing survival stories with regional news outlets. One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "hearing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense". The young person immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was wounded by falling debris from the roof.