Gaza building collapse kills 12 Palestinians as rescuers search for survivors

Gaza City, Palestine. A seven-storey apartment building collapsed overnight after being damaged by Israeli airstrikes, killing at least 12 Palestinians, including five children, Gaza civil defense officials said on Wednesday. Rescuers were searching the rubble for dozens of people believed trapped beneath it.

Rescue operation

Civil defense workers said 14 people were injured and nearly 100 others were believed to be under the rubble. At least 10 families had lived in the building, according to Raed Al-Dahshan, director of Gaza City’s civil defense service.

“We are still hearing voices from under the rubble, so there is still hope to find people,” Dahshan said.

Video obtained by Reuters showed rescue workers attempting to pull two people from beneath a collapsed wall. Another video circulated on social media showed Gaza civil defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal carrying a girl wrapped in a blood-stained scarf.

Equipment shortages

Alessandro Mrakic, head of the U.N. Development Programme’s Gaza office, said rescuers from some U.N. agencies and Egypt’s relief agency were participating in the operation.

He said the rescue effort was difficult because of a lack of appropriate machinery, with some people digging by hand.

“The situation, as you see, is tragic because we don’t have the equipment and machinery that is needed,” Mrakic said. “We need to prepare for more deaths.”

Risk of further collapses

The collapse highlighted risks faced by tens of thousands of Palestinians living in an estimated 2,000 buildings damaged by Israeli airstrikes across Gaza.

Mrakic said about 400 buildings were at risk of collapse, particularly with winter approaching.

Palestinian and U.N. officials blame Israeli restrictions on Gaza for the shortage of heavy machinery. Israel says the restrictions are intended to prevent equipment from reaching militant groups.