World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Sand embankment collapse kills children and woman in Gaza
A rain-soaked sand embankment collapsed onto tents in a displacement camp near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
Gaza’s health ministry and civil defence officials reported four deaths, including three children; another outlet reported five, so the toll is unclear.
The collapse came after days of heavy rain and strong winds, as displaced families shelter in tents or damaged buildings.
Gaza authorities said more than 70,000 tents were flooded during the storms.
The disaster shows how displaced families face deadly risks from winter weather as well as from damaged shelters and inadequate infrastructure.
A ceasefire agreed in October 2025 called for Gaza’s eventual reconstruction, but progress has been limited and talks over disarmament and troop withdrawal remain unresolved.
Israel says reconstruction cannot begin before Hamas is disarmed, while UN agencies are calling for specialist equipment and materials to enter Gaza.
A rain-soaked sand embankment collapsed onto tents at a displacement camp south of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing children and a woman.
The Hindu and Straits Times reported four deaths, while The National reported five, including three children.
Six people were reported injured by The Hindu and Straits Times; The National said civil defence teams rescued more than 10 injured people.
The collapse came after heavy rain and flooding affected displacement camps across Gaza.
Gaza civil defence officials called for reconstruction and cited shortages of rescue equipment, while Israel says reconstruction cannot begin before Hamas is disarmed.
- Who
- A woman and children were killed; reports differ on the total, with four deaths reported by The Hindu and Straits Times and five by The National.
- What
- A rain-soaked sand embankment collapsed onto tents. Reports said people were killed and others injured.
- When
- Late Sunday, November 8, 2026.
- Where
- A displacement camp south of Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.
- Why
- Heavy rain appears to have destabilised and washed away the sand embankment.
Gaza civil defence officials
Israel
Reconstruction and equipment
Gaza civil defence officials
Mahmoud Basal said tents cannot protect people and called reconstruction the only solution; he also cited a shortage of heavy rescue equipment and blamed Israeli restrictions on machinery.
Israel
Israel says reconstruction cannot happen before Hamas is disarmed and says it will not allow equipment that could be used for military purposes by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.
Heavy rain began, and local authorities later said at least 70,000 tents had been flooded in its first hours.
Heavy rain washed away a sand embankment beside a displacement camp south of Deir al-Balah, burying tents.
Residents dug through the sand before civil defence crews arrived; The National said the search lasted more than two hours.
- Reported deaths
- Four in The Hindu and Straits Times; five in The National
- Location
- Camp south of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza
- Children killed
- Three, according to The National
- Tents flooded
- At least 70,000, according to local authorities cited by The Hindu and Straits Times
- Households reporting damage
- More than 26,000, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- Storm distress calls
- More than 2,100 received; teams responded to 218, according to Gaza government media office head Ismail Al Thawabta
4 sources
What people are saying
Tents can't protect people, neither from rain nor of the heat, the only solution is reconstruction
We found that three tents were covered completely after the mountain collapsed on top of them. People were under the rubble and we couldn't see them
What can one say about the situation in Gaza? Whoever did not die from bombs and missiles is dying from buildings collapsing on them, from the collapse of sand and mountains on them
Some children were buried in the sand, and people were screaming