At least 20 killed in as war-damaged building collapses in Gaza city, Civil Defence says
At least 20 Palestinians were killed and 16 others rescued after a six-storey residential building damaged in an earlier Israeli strike collapsed in western Gaza City overnight, the enclave's Civil Defence said on Wednesday. The Al Saada building had been sheltering nearly 100 people, including 10 displaced families, when it collapsed, the Civil Defence said in a statement. About 100 people…
At least 20 Palestinians were killed and 16 rescued when a six-story residential building, heavily damaged in an earlier Israeli strike, collapsed in western Gaza City overnight. The Al Saada building had sheltered nearly 100 people, including 10 displaced families, when it fell. About 100 people remained missing beneath the rubble and surrounding tents.
Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal reported that their crews are working with basic tools and digging by hand, as they lack heavy equipment needed for such situations. The situation is grave due to the lack of machinery, with people still digging with their bare hands. The UN Development Programme's Gaza office head, Alessandro Mrakic, described the rescue efforts as difficult.
About 400 buildings are at risk of collapse, especially as winter approaches, potentially exacerbated by rain. Gaza’s civil defence estimate that approximately 2,000 occupied buildings and homes across the enclave are at risk of collapse. Residents continue to live in unsafe structures because they lack alternative accommodation.
The crisis is expected to worsen during winter when weather conditions could further weaken damaged structures.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
