Death Toll from Indonesian School Collapse Rises to 37

The death toll from the collapse of a school in Indonesia has risen to 37, officials confirmed on Sunday, as rescuers continued to recover victims trapped beneath the rubble.

The incident occurred on Monday when part of the multi-storey building on Java Island suddenly collapsed as students were gathering for afternoon prayers.

“As of Sunday morning, the number of recovered victims was 141 people. 104 were in safe condition, while 37 were dead,” said Yudhi Bramantyo, Operations Director of the National Search and Rescue Agency, in an official statement.

He added that 26 people remain missing.

The death toll includes a body part retrieved by rescuers from the rubble on Saturday, Yudhi said.

A separate statement by Nanang Sigit, head of the local search and rescue agency, also confirmed the death toll of 37.

Investigators have been examining the cause of the collapse. Preliminary assessments by experts suggest that substandard construction may have been a contributing factor.

The rescue operation was complicated because vibrations in one part of the building could destabilise other sections, officials explained.

However, families of the missing agreed on Thursday to the use of heavy machinery, after the 72-hour “golden period”—considered the most critical window for survival—had passed.

The rescue teams continue to work cautiously, while authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and avoid the collapse site.