The number of fatalities in the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia has climbed to 54, according to authorities, as emergency crews continue to search for more than a dozen people still missing.

The disaster struck last Monday at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in East Java while construction work was underway. Hundreds of students—predominantly teenage boys—had gathered for prayers when the two-storey structure gave way.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency confirmed the collapse is the deadliest incident to hit the country so far this year. Rescue teams are aiming to conclude the search operation for the remaining 13 victims trapped under the rubble by the end of the day.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary accounts from officials point to a weak foundation as the likely reason the building caved in.

"Among all disasters in 2025—natural or otherwise—none have resulted in as many fatalities as the one in Sidoarjo," said Budi Irawan, a deputy with the national disaster agency, during a press briefing.

The official death toll includes at least two individuals who were rescued from the debris but later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

Al Khoziny operates as a pesantren, a traditional Islamic boarding school common in Indonesia. Many such schools function with minimal oversight and lax regulatory enforcement. It remains unclear whether the institution had official permission for the additional construction.

Search and rescue efforts have been hampered by the building’s collapse pattern, which left only narrow gaps for workers to navigate, authorities noted last week.

Several survivors recounted their traumatic experiences to local media. Among them was 13-year-old Muhammad Rijalul Qoib, who spoke to Detik News.

"I heard the sound of rocks falling. It got louder and louder," he said. Acting on instinct, he ran toward the exit. Though he managed to escape, he was injured by debris from the collapsing roof.

Source: BBC

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