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The death count from the structural failure of an educational facility in Indonesia has escalated to 54, according to authorities, with emergency responders still looking for over twelve missing individuals.

Numerous students, primarily adolescent males, had assembled for prayers at the religious educational institution in Eastern Java when the structure gave way while being renovated.

The country's emergency management authority describes this as the country's deadliest disaster 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 continuing to probe the cause behind the structural failure. Certain authorities indicated the two-level structure caved in due to an inadequate base.

"Out of all the disasters in 2025, whether natural or man-made, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the emergency management authority during a press conference.

The total count encompasses at least two people who were rescued from the debris but subsequently succumbed in medical care.

Institutional Context and Regulatory Concerns

The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.

Numerous Islamic schools operate informally, without strong regulation or consistent monitoring. It remains unclear whether the school had necessary permits to conduct building modifications.

Operational Difficulties

Emergency response efforts have proven challenging due to the manner the building collapsed, creating narrow voids for emergency personnel to operate within, authorities reported previously.

Eyewitness Reports

Those who escaped have recounted their terrifying survival stories with regional news outlets.

One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the sound of collapsing materials", which "grew louder and more intense".

The adolescent immediately ran for the exit, and while he managed to escape, he was injured by collapsing materials from the roof.