Six-storey building collapses in Gaza City, at least 21 killed
A six-storey residential building in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa district collapsed overnight, killing at least 21 people, including 12 children and 5 women. The building, which housed over 100 displaced residents, had previously suffered structural damage from Israeli airstrikes. Rescue teams worked through the night to extract survivors and recover bodies from the rubble.
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Gaza authorities reported on Wednesday that a six-storey apartment building in the Tal al-Hawa district of Gaza City collapsed overnight, killing at least 21 people including 12 children and 5 women. The building contained four apartments per floor and had been sheltering more than 100 displaced people. According to Gaza's civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas authority, the building had sustained structural damage from Israeli airstrikes prior to its collapse.
Rescue workers undertook arduous efforts through the night to extract survivors and recover bodies from the rubble. Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed emergency teams and residents digging by hand as children's cries were reportedly heard from beneath the debris. At least one young girl was pulled out alive. At Al-Shifa Hospital, journalists witnessed relatives grieving over the bodies of the dead, which were wrapped in white shrouds.
The United Nations has stated that the vast majority of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, leaving many structures dangerously unstable even after fighting has ceased in an area. A relative of several victims told journalists that Gaza's damaged buildings represent "ticking time bombs" for residents who have no alternative shelter available.
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