Indonesia school collapse kills over 50, heartbreak unfolds
Over 50 dead in Indonesia school collapse; rescuers dig through rubble, sparking grief and outrage over poor safety standards
Indonesia School Collapse Leaves Over 50 Dead, Grief Sweeps Sidoarjo
The death toll from the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province has risen to at least 50 people, making it the country’s deadliest disaster this year. Rescue officials confirmed on Monday (October 6, 2025) that nearly all the debris from the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo has been cleared, but hopes of finding more survivors have all but vanished.
The tragedy struck last Monday, September 29, when piles of concrete and steel suddenly gave way, crashing down on hundreds of mostly teenage boys who were studying and resting inside the multi-storey building. Many of them were caught completely off guard, leaving little time to escape.
Witnesses described a thunderous sound followed by a cloud of dust that blanketed the area. “It felt like an earthquake,” said Rafi, a 16-year-old student who managed to crawl out from the rubble. “I could hear my friends screaming for help, but then the voices stopped.”
For days, rescue teams worked tirelessly under sweltering heat and pouring rain, digging through the wreckage by hand and using heavy machinery. Families stood nearby clutching photos of their missing loved ones, praying for miracles that rarely came. The emotional toll was unbearable — every body recovered brought tears, disbelief, and heartbreak to the small community.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said that all victims had been accounted for, though some remain hospitalized with serious injuries. Officials are now investigating what caused the structure to collapse so catastrophically. Preliminary reports suggest poor construction quality and inadequate building inspections may have played a role.
Local residents and parents are demanding accountability. “Our children deserved a safe place to learn, not a death trap,” said Hasan, whose 14-year-old son was among those killed. “This was not fate — this was negligence.”
President Joko Widodo expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered a full review of school building standards across the country. The government has also promised financial assistance for the injured and bereaved.
As the last pieces of rubble are cleared, Sidoarjo mourns — not just for the young lives lost, but for the painful reminder that safety is still too often overlooked.