At least 12 people, including children, have died after a war-damaged multi-storey building collapsed in Gaza City, with dozens more reportedly missing as rescue teams search through the rubble. The collapse in the Tal al-Hawa area has added to the humanitarian challenges facing residents, with rescuers facing difficulties accessing heavy equipment.
Highlights
- At least 12 people have reportedly died in the building collapse.
- Children are among those killed, according to local rescue teams.
- Dozens of people are still reported missing.
- Ten families were reportedly living inside the building despite safety concerns.
- Israeli strikes elsewhere in Gaza reportedly killed at least five people on Tuesday.
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Rescue Teams Search Through Rubble
Rescue operations are continuing in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood following the collapse of a heavily damaged multi-storey building.
Footage from the scene shows rescue workers and residents searching through layers of concrete and debris, hoping to find survivors and recover those trapped beneath the structure.
Local rescue teams said at least 12 people had been killed, including children, while dozens remained unaccounted for.
Families Had Been Living in the Building
Residents said around 10 families had been staying in the apartments despite warnings that the structure was unsafe.
The building had sustained damage during the conflict, raising concerns about its stability.
The collapse has once again highlighted the dangers facing civilians living among heavily damaged structures across Gaza.
Rescuers Face Equipment Shortages
Members of the Hamas-run Civil Defence service said their initial rescue efforts were carried out with very limited equipment.
According to the rescuers, restrictions on equipment entering Gaza meant they initially had to work by hand while trying to locate people underneath the debris.
They later managed to borrow heavy machinery to assist with the search.
More Deaths Reported in Israeli Strikes
The building collapse came amid continued violence elsewhere in Gaza.
Health officials and Hamas sources said Israeli air strikes on Tuesday killed at least five Palestinians, including two children and a Hamas commander.
The Israeli military said it had targeted and killed a Hamas commander in southern Gaza as well as another Hamas fighter in northern Gaza. Reports from the areas indicated that a child was also killed in each incident.
The casualty figures and circumstances have been reported by parties to the conflict and could not be independently verified from the information available.
Patient Reportedly Killed at Health Centre
Separately, Medical Aid for Palestinians, a British charity operating in Gaza, said a patient was killed by an Israeli drone at a health facility it supports in Jabalia, northern Gaza.
The incident adds to concerns over the safety of civilians and healthcare facilities amid the continuing conflict.
As rescue teams continue working through the collapsed building, families are still waiting for information about relatives who remain missing.
For families still waiting for news of their loved ones, every moment of the search carries the hope that someone may still be found alive beneath the rubble.
