Gaza Building Collapse Kills 21, Including 8 Children
A six-storey war-damaged building in Tal al-Hawa collapses overnight, killing 21 displaced people who had sheltered there due to a severe tent shortage.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A six-storey building in Gaza City collapses overnight, killing at least 21 people.
- The casualties include eight children, while 45 injured individuals are taken to hospitals.
- Desperate displaced families had sheltered in the tilted, damaged structure due to a lack of tents.
- The UN warns that roughly 400 other war-damaged buildings face imminent collapse risks.
At least 21 people, including eight children, lost their lives when a war-damaged building suddenly collapsed overnight in the Gaza Strip. The tragic incident in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa area left local residents and rescue teams grappling with yet another humanitarian disaster amid ongoing conflict conditions.
Witnesses reported that the six-storey structure had been left tilting dangerously to one side following an Israeli strike more than a year earlier. Displaced families had moved inside out of sheer desperation, unable to secure alternative shelter despite knowing the severe risks involved.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Search and rescue operations faced severe delays due to a critical lack of proper equipment. Initially, rescuers from the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency were forced to dig through the rubble with their bare hands before UN and Egyptian teams arrived to assist, concluding operations on Wednesday afternoon after evacuating 45 injured survivors.
"They couldn't find a tent or somewhere to live. This was the last place they could turn to, despite the danger. They were aware that it would likely end in tragedy. A lack of resources drove them towards certain death."
Umm Mohammed Bakrun, a local woman living in a nearby tent, recounted speaking with her son just before the structure gave way within seconds during the early hours of Wednesday. Satellite imagery later confirmed that the surrounding area had faced heavy targeting during the early weeks of the war, with structural damage clearly visible by 2024.
The broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains deeply alarming, with United Nations estimates indicating that roughly 80% of all structures in the territory have been damaged or destroyed. Over 1.9 million people remain displaced, and 1.2 million currently rely on tents and makeshift shelters, highlighting grave vulnerabilities as winter approaches.
Local authorities have warned that approximately 400 other war-damaged buildings across Gaza remain at imminent risk of collapsing, particularly as winter weather approaches. They have urged Israeli authorities to permit the delivery of heavy machinery for rescue efforts, along with tents and tarpaulins to protect displaced populations from impending rains.
Source: BBC World
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