Indonesia School Collapse Exposes Major Safety Failures; Death toll rises to 61

The heart-wrenching death toll from the collapse of a prayer hall at the century-old Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, has surged to 61, as Indonesian rescue crews pulled a dozen bodies and at least seven body parts from the debris on Monday. The tragedy unfolded on September 29, 2025, when the two-story structure—undergoing an unauthorized expansion to add upper floors—caved in during afternoon prayers, trapping hundreds of students, primarily boys aged 12 to 19.

What began with initial reports of three deaths and 91 missing has escalated rapidly over the week, marking this as Indonesia's deadliest disaster of 2025, surpassing other natural and man-made calamities in terms of fatalities. Authorities, including the National Disaster Management Agency, have shifted from desperate survivor searches to body recovery operations, employing heavy excavators after detecting no signs of life three days post-collapse.

The Al Khoziny school, a traditional pesantren or Islamic boarding institution serving as a vital community hub for religious education, was packed with teenage boys reciting prayers in the lower-floor mosque when the unstable foundations gave way under the weight of ongoing construction. Only one student emerged unscathed, a miraculous escape amid the chaos, while 99 others received treatment for injuries and were discharged. Four remain hospitalized with severe wounds, including amputations necessitated by crush injuries from the tons of rubble.

Early rescue efforts were hampered by the risk of further collapses, temporarily suspending operations as teams navigated precarious debris. Video footage from the scene captures the grim reality: excavators clawing through twisted metal and concrete, while grief-stricken families huddle nearby, clutching photos of their loved ones. The incident has drawn national attention, with officials noting that pesantren like Al Khoziny often operate informally, lacking the rigorous oversight applied to secular schools.

Adding to the sorrow, most recovered bodies were in such fragmented or decomposed states that visual identification proved impossible, compelling relatives to submit DNA samples at the Bhayangkara police hospital in nearby Surabaya, East Java's capital. By Monday, Disaster Victims Identification teams had successfully matched and released 17 bodies to families for traditional Islamic funerals, allowing some measure of closure amid overwhelming anguish.

Parents, many of whom had enrolled their sons just months prior, described the scene as a "nightmare," with one father, speaking to local media, recounting how his 14-year-old son had excitedly shared plans for the new floors before the disaster. The two remaining students listed as missing underscore the operation's unresolved pain, though rescuers hold little hope for survival after more than a week under the rubble. This toll not only shatters families but also ripples through the tight-knit pesantren community, where such schools educate over 42,000 buildings nationwide, many without proper building permits—only 50 are fully compliant, according to the religious affairs ministry.

Also Read: Indonesia School Collapse: 91 Students Missing, 3 Dead in East Java

The collapse has ignited fierce scrutiny over building safety in Indonesia's vast network of Islamic schools, where expansions often proceed without permits to accommodate growing enrollments. Sidoarjo Regent Subandi confirmed that Al Khoziny's management bypassed required approvals, pouring concrete for a third floor on foundations ill-equipped to bear the load—a pattern echoed in past incidents where hasty constructions led to similar tragedies.

Public works minister Dody Hanggodo highlighted the systemic issue, noting that informal operations prioritize rapid development over structural integrity. In response, authorities have pledged investigations into the school's administrators and broader regulatory reforms, potentially including mandatory inspections for all pesantren. Community leaders, meanwhile, have rallied to support survivors, establishing funds for medical care and counseling, while funerals draw crowds mourning the loss of a generation's promise.

As the final phases of recovery unfold, this catastrophe serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in Indonesia's educational infrastructure, blending profound loss with urgent calls for accountability. With 61 young lives cut short and echoes of prayers silenced beneath the ruins, the nation grapples with questions of prevention and healing, vowing that such a scale of devastation—unprecedented this year—will not be repeated.

Also Read: Tragic Indonesia School Collapse: Rescuers Race to Save Trapped Students