Indonesia School Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 54
The Indonesian disaster management agency announced today, Monday, October 6, 2025, that the number of students confirmed dead after a school building collapsed last week has risen to at least 54, after rescue teams removed most of the debris. This is the worst disaster the country has faced this year.
Yudhi Pramantio, director of operations at the National Search and Rescue Agency, stated during a press conference that as of Monday morning, "we have removed 54 bodies, including the remains of 5 people." Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly to find the missing.
Yudhi added: "We hope to complete the search operations today, Monday, and return the bodies to the families." Meanwhile, Budi Irawan, deputy director of the National Disaster Management Agency, indicated that this collapse was the deadliest disaster in Indonesia so far this year. He added that at least 13 people are still missing.
Tons of concrete collapsed on hundreds of students, mostly teenagers aged 13 to 19, after the building of the Al-Khoirot Islamic boarding school in the city of Sidoarjo, East Java province, collapsed, trapping and killing them.
Earlier, the agency stated in a statement that rescue teams had managed, with the help of cranes, to remove 80% of the debris and found bodies and remains of victims. The authorities claimed that the school's foundations were unable to support the ongoing construction work on the upper floors, which caused the collapse.
Key Points:
- At least 54 students confirmed dead
- Rescue teams continue to search for missing people
- 13 people still missing
- Collapse caused by weak foundations and ongoing construction work
- Worst disaster in Indonesia this year
