Gaza Building Collapse Kills at Least 20 as Rescue Efforts Continue
Rescue teams in Gaza City are recovering bodies after a bombed-out building collapsed, killing at least 20 people, as officials warn of thousands of similarly unsafe structures.
Search and rescue operations continued in Gaza City on Wednesday after a bombed-out building collapsed, killing at least 20 people, according to reports.
The incident has drawn attention to the precarious conditions facing displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, many of whom are sheltering in structures damaged during the war between Israel and Hamas fighters.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defence, said crews were working to recover victims from beneath the rubble. He noted that around 100 people had been inside the building at the time of the collapse, and that teams were still trying to retrieve those trapped.
"What is even more dangerous is that there are more than 2,000 buildings across the Gaza Strip in a similar condition, with people still living inside them," Basal said. He warned that the scene could be repeated elsewhere, leading to further deaths and collapses, particularly as winter approaches, when at-risk buildings frequently give way.
Talal al-Harazin, a survivor, described the moment the structure came down next to the tent where his family lives. "At around three in the morning, the building suddenly collapsed. In less than 10 seconds, it completely came down," he said. "When it collapsed, the dust was so thick that we could not even see our fingers."
Relief and recovery efforts have drawn outside support. Egypt has provided heavy machinery, while the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are set to deliver relief items. The United Nations Development Programme also deployed available machinery and workers to assist the rescue operation.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ramiz Alakbarov, said the tragedy underscored the grave risks faced by families living in such structures and the urgent need for safer alternatives, adding that no one should have to risk their lives simply by living in a shelter.
Ahead of the rainy season, aid teams are supporting people who choose to move from damaged buildings and flood-prone areas to safer sites.