At least 20 people, including five children, have been killed after a war-damaged residential building collapsed in Gaza City, with dozens of others feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The six-storey building collapsed overnight in the Tal al-Hawa area, where displaced Palestinian families had reportedly been sheltering despite warnings that the structure was unsafe.
Rescue teams continued searching through the debris for survivors and bodies following the collapse. Gaza Civil Defence officials said the operation was being hampered by a shortage of heavy equipment, with rescuers initially relying on basic tools and manual labour.
The building had reportedly sustained significant damage during earlier Israeli strikes. Despite the danger, families continued living there because of the severe shortage of safe housing and shelter across the Gaza Strip. Reuters reported that at least 10 families were living in the building when it collapsed.
Raed al-Dahshan, director of the Civil Defence service in Gaza City, said rescuers were still hearing voices beneath the rubble, raising hopes that some people could be rescued alive.
The collapse also affected nearby homes and makeshift shelters, adding to the difficulties faced by displaced residents in the area.
Witnesses described the collapse as sudden. One resident reportedly said the building had shown signs of deterioration, with pieces falling from it regularly and the structure appearing to lean to one side.
The United Nations has warned that the condition of damaged buildings across Gaza presents a serious risk to civilians. UN officials have said hundreds of other structures could also be at risk of collapse, particularly as winter weather approaches.
Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programme’s Gaza office, said rescue efforts were severely constrained by the lack of appropriate machinery and equipment. UN and Egyptian relief teams have assisted with some heavy machinery, but officials continue to call for additional equipment.
UN humanitarian officials have also urged that heavy machinery, shelter materials and other essential supplies be allowed into Gaza to support rescue operations and protect displaced families.
Israel says restrictions on certain equipment entering Gaza are intended to prevent materials from being diverted for military purposes. Palestinian and UN officials, however, have raised concerns that the restrictions are making rescue and humanitarian operations more difficult.
The collapse has highlighted the wider housing crisis facing Gaza, where large numbers of people remain displaced and many damaged structures are still being used as shelters.
According to UN estimates cited in recent reporting, a large majority of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed during the war, leaving families with limited options for finding secure accommodation.
The tragedy has renewed calls for safer shelter, increased humanitarian assistance and greater access to equipment needed to rescue people trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Rescue operations were continuing as authorities worked to determine the final number of casualties and locate those still believed to be beneath the rubble.
Source: Thepressradio.com
