Rescue teams in Indonesia have recovered at least 50 bodies from the ruins of an Islamic boarding school that collapsed last week in Sidoarjo, East Java province, making it the country’s deadliest disaster of 2025 so far.
The collapse of the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School occurred while hundreds of mostly teenage boys were attending classes and prayers. The multi-storey building suddenly gave way, trapping many under piles of concrete and metal debris.
According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), rescuers have cleared nearly 80 percent of the rubble and continue searching for 13 people still missing.
Deputy agency head Budi Irawan said the search is expected to conclude by the end of Monday October 6, 2025.
“This is the highest number of victims from a single building collapse this year,” Irawan told reporters. “Our teams are doing everything possible to locate the remaining victims.”
Yudhi Bramantyo, from the national search and rescue team, added that several body parts had also been found, suggesting the death toll could rise above 54 once recovery operations end.
Images shared by authorities showed rescuers in orange uniforms carrying body bags and using excavators to lift debris as families waited nearby for news of their loved ones.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the school’s upper floors were being expanded without proper structural support. The foundation reportedly could not bear the additional weight, causing the collapse.
“Construction work on the top floors was ongoing when the building gave way,” said Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo. “It appears the structure did not meet safety standards.”
Authorities are investigating whether the school had the required building permit, as reports show that out of 42,000 Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, only 50 have official construction permits.
Officials say this tragedy highlights the widespread issue of unsafe, unregulated construction in private religious schools across the country.
Dozens of families have gathered at the site and local hospitals to identify bodies. Many have expressed anger at what they call “avoidable negligence.”
“My son was just 14. He went to study, not to die,” said Siti Rahma, a grieving mother whose child remains missing. “How can schools operate without safety checks?”
The Rajasthan state government (update: correct name—East Java provincial government) has announced an independent inquiry into the disaster. Officials say the probe will examine construction safety, emergency response, and accountability for those who approved the school’s expansion.
President Joko Widodo has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for stricter oversight of school buildings nationwide.
Indonesia frequently experiences building collapses linked to poor construction standards and weak enforcement of safety regulations. Earlier this year, several people were killed in a warehouse collapse in Central Java, and similar incidents have occurred at places of worship and schools.
