12 K!lled In Gaza Building Coll∆pse, 100 Other Palestinians Including Children Tr∆pped Under Rubble
12 Killed In Gaza Building Collapse, 100 Other Palestinians Including Children Trapped Under Rubble
The rescuers said they had recovered 11 bodies from the wreckage and rescued 12 people alive.
About 100 Palestinians, including an estimated 50 children, are trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed in Gaza, according to civil defence rescuers.
The rescuers said they had recovered 11 bodies from the wreckage and rescued 12 people alive.
The building reportedly collapsed around 1am while residents were asleep.
According to the civil defence team, the structure had earlier been partially damaged in Israeli attacks, but Palestinians had continued to shelter there because they had nowhere else to go.
Rescue workers and residents were searching for equipment to help them reach those still trapped beneath the debris.
Alessandro Mrakic, head of the U.N. Development Programme’s Gaza office, said rescuers from some U.N. agencies were taking part in the rescue efforts, which he described as difficult due to the lack of proper machinery. Egypt’s relief agency was also taking part in rescue efforts.
“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),” said Mrakic.
“There are approximately 400 buildings at risk of collapse. And we know that these buildings will collapse, especially now with the upcoming winter,” he added.
Palestinian and U.N. officials blame Israel’s restrictions on Gaza for the lack of heavy machinery in the territory. Israel says its curbs aim to keep equipment out of the hands of militant groups.
Israel’s assault on Gaza — launched after Hamas’ deadly raid into Israel in October 2023 — has generated around 61 million, opens new tab tons of wreckage and debris that could take seven years to clear, according to the United Nations.
