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Sidoarjo Islamic School Collapse Death Toll Passes 50 as Recovery Nears Completion

Authorities link the disaster to an unpermitted vertical addition that caused a foundation failure.

Overview

  • Rescuers reported 54 dead according to the national search and rescue command, while the disaster agency cited 53, with roughly 10 to 13 people still missing and hopes to conclude operations today.
  • The building failed during a concrete pour for an added floor as hundreds of students gathered for afternoon prayer.
  • Officials say the century‑old structure had been expanded without permits, and the newly added load overwhelmed the foundations.
  • Families consented to the use of excavators and cranes after the 72‑hour rescue window, accelerating the shift from careful manual work to full recovery.
  • Most of the buried were boys aged roughly 12 to 19, and identification has been difficult because many victims were minors with no fingerprint records.