Indonesia Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 45 as Rescuers Race to Find Missing Students in Java

Jakarta, Indonesia — At least 45 people have been confirmed dead and more than 100 others rescued after part of a multi-storey building collapsed on Indonesia’s Java Island on Monday, officials said.

The tragedy occurred at an Islamic boarding school where students had gathered for afternoon prayers before the structure suddenly gave way, trapping dozens beneath the debris.

Death Toll Climbs as Rescue Efforts Continue

According to Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director at the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), rescuers have so far evacuated 149 victims from the rubble — including 45 fatalities and 104 survivors.

“According to our calculation, the total number of victims we have evacuated is 149, with 45 reported dead and 104 survivors,” Yudhi told reporters on Sunday, noting that several body parts were also recovered.

The figure marks an increase from an earlier toll of 37 deaths reported on Sunday morning.
Nanang Sigit, head of the local search and rescue agency, confirmed the same casualty count.

Authorities said at least 26 people remain missing, with rescue teams working around the clock to locate them.

“We will continue to do our best. We may extend the operation until we are sure all victims have been recovered,” Yudhi added, estimating that the rubble could be cleared by Tuesday.

Recovery Operation 60% Complete

Officials said the rescue and recovery operation is around 60% complete.

Budi Irawan, a senior official from Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), said efforts are ongoing to ensure all trapped victims are found.

“Our hope is that by tomorrow everything will be levelled and we can determine the final number of victims,” Irawan said during a livestreamed press briefing.

Challenging Rescue Conditions

Rescue operations have been slow and complex, as heavy vibrations in one section of the debris could trigger further collapse in other areas, officials explained.

Families of those still missing gave consent on Thursday for heavy machinery to be deployed, after the critical 72-hour “golden window” for rescuing survivors had passed.

“We have to work carefully because even a small mistake can endanger our rescuers or other victims,” one official said.

Probe Points to Weak Construction

Investigators are still probing the cause of the collapse, but early findings suggest substandard construction and poor building standards may have contributed to the disaster.

Indonesia has a long history of lax construction regulations, with experts repeatedly warning that many buildings across the country fail to meet safety standards.

In September 2025, at least three people were killed and dozens injured when a building hosting a prayer event collapsed in West Java, raising renewed concerns over construction oversight.