6 hrs ago
War-Damaged Gaza Building Collapse Kills At Least 12–20 People
A damaged apartment building in Gaza suddenly fell down while families were inside.
News reports gave different numbers for the people who died: at least 12 in one report and at least 20 in another.
The reports said that five or six children were among those killed.
Fourteen people were injured, and nearly 100 more might have been under the rubble.
Rescue workers said they heard voices, so they hoped to find survivors.
Some rescuers had to dig with their bare hands because there was not enough heavy equipment.
United Nations and Egyptian teams helped with the rescue.
Many families lived in damaged buildings because they could not find safer shelters or new tents.
Officials said hundreds of other buildings might also collapse, especially during winter weather.
A seven-storey, war-damaged apartment building in Gaza collapsed overnight while families were sheltering inside.
Reuters reports give differing death tolls: at least 12 people, including five children, in one account and 20 people, including six children, in another.
Fourteen people were reported injured, while nearly 100 others were believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
At least 10 families lived in the building, and rescuers said they heard voices beneath the debris.
Rescue efforts were hampered by a shortage of heavy machinery, while officials warned that about 400 other buildings could collapse.
- Who
- Palestinian families sheltering in the building, Gaza civil defence rescuers, United Nations personnel and Egyptian relief workers.
- What
- A seven-storey, war-damaged apartment building collapsed, killing at least 12 to 20 people according to differing Reuters reports, injuring 14 and potentially trapping nearly 100 others.
- Where
- Gaza; the building was identified by the local civil defence director as being in Gaza City.
- When
- The collapse occurred overnight before rescue efforts reported on Wednesday, September 16.
- Why
- Families had moved into the damaged building because shelter options and tents were limited and they wanted protection from wind and rain. Rescue operations were also hindered by a lack of heavy machinery.
Palestinian, United Nations and Hamas Officials
Israel
Access to rescue machinery
Palestinian, United Nations and Hamas Officials
Palestinian and United Nations officials blame Israel's restrictions on Gaza for limiting the heavy machinery needed for rescue operations.
Israel
Israel says the restrictions are intended to prevent equipment from reaching militant groups.
Ceasefire violations
Palestinian, United Nations and Hamas Officials
Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and obstructing efforts to implement a broader plan to end the conflict.
Israel
Israel says Hamas has been violating the ceasefire agreement.
Safety of damaged buildings
Palestinian, United Nations and Hamas Officials
United Nations and Palestinian officials say families urgently need safer shelter alternatives and should not have to live in structures at risk of collapse.
Israel
No opposing Israeli position on the safety of the buildings was provided in the reports.
Key facts
- Reported deaths
- At least 12 people, including five children, in one Reuters account; at least 20 people, including six children, in another.
- Injured
- 14 people
- Potentially trapped
- Nearly 100 people
- Collapsed building
- A seven-storey apartment building housing at least 10 families
- Buildings at risk
- Approximately 400 buildings
- Damaged buildings inhabited
- About 2,000 buildings across Gaza
- Rescue conditions
- A shortage of heavy machinery forced some rescuers to dig by hand; United Nations and Egyptian teams assisted.
- War debris
- The United Nations estimates Gaza's wreckage and debris at around 61 million tons, potentially taking seven years to clear.
Quotes
Alessandro Mrakic
Head of the U.N. Development Programme’s Gaza office
“Today’s tragedy underscores the grave risks faced by families living in these structures and the urgent need for safer alternatives. No one should have to risk their life simply to find a safe place to shelter.”
theprint.in
“The situation, as you see, is tragic because we don’t have the equipment and machinery that is needed. So there are actually people that are digging with their bare hands. We need to prepare (for more deaths)”
theprint.in
theprint.in
Sources
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