Indonesia school collapse death toll climbs to 54 victims

October 06, 2025 / 9:51 AM

Sharjah24 - AFP: The death toll from the collapse of a school building in Indonesia climbed to 54 on Monday, as rescue teams continued to search for more than a dozen people still missing.

Tragedy on Java Island

Part of a multi-storey Islamic boarding school on Indonesia’s Java island collapsed without warning last week while students gathered for afternoon prayers. Officials said it was the country’s deadliest disaster of the year so far.

Rescuers race against time

Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the rubble, retrieving 54 victims, including five body parts, according to Basarnas operations director Yudhi Bramantyo. “We hope to conclude the recovery today and return the bodies to their families,” he said.

Search continues for the missing

Authorities confirmed that at least 13 people remain unaccounted for. Families consented to the use of heavy machinery after the 72-hour golden rescue period had passed.

Investigation into construction flaws

Officials are investigating the cause of the collapse. Early findings suggest that substandard construction materials and poor structural standards may have contributed.

Ongoing safety concerns

The incident has renewed fears over building safety regulations in Indonesia, where lax oversight has caused repeated tragedies. Just last month, three people were killed and dozens injured when another building hosting a prayer recital collapsed in West Java.