A war-damaged apartment building in Gaza City that had been sheltering displaced Palestinian families collapsed overnight, killing at least 21 people, including children, with rescuers searching for dozens still trapped.
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Key facts
- At least 21 Palestinians, including several children, were killed when the building collapsed overnight in Gaza City.
- The building had been damaged by an Israeli strike last year, according to the BBC.
- Some 10 families, and about 100 displaced people, had reportedly been living in the structure.
- Rescuers said they could hear voices beneath the rubble, but the search was hampered by a lack of heavy machinery.
- Reported injured figures ranged from 14 to 25 people taken to hospital.
At least 21 Palestinians were killed after a war-damaged apartment building in Gaza City collapsed overnight, according to news reports on Wednesday. The building had been sheltering displaced families when the structure gave way.
Sky News reported that at least 21 people who were sheltering in the bombed-out building had been killed, with dozens trapped. The BBC reported that eight children were among those killed, and that some 10 families had been living in the building, which it said had been hit by an Israeli strike last year.
The Guardian reported that the building had housed about 100 displaced Palestinian families, and that rescuers were searching the rubble for dozens of people, including children, believed to be trapped. Earlier reporting from the outlet put the number believed trapped at about 100 people, including 50 children.
A rescue team from Gaza’s civil defence said they had recovered the bodies of five children among the victims, according to the Guardian. Medical sources told the outlet that rescuers could hear the voices of people trapped beneath the rubble as they tried to reach them.
The Guardian reported that the search effort was hampered by a lack of heavy machinery. Reported figures for the injured ranged from 14 to 25 people taken to hospital across different accounts.
Al Jazeera reported that rescuers were searching through the rubble for survivors after the multi-storey building collapsed overnight. Casualty figures across outlets varied through the day, ranging from at least 12 to at least 21 killed as the situation developed.
Why it matters
The collapse highlights the danger posed by war-damaged buildings still being used as shelter by displaced families in Gaza. With rescuers lacking heavy machinery and voices reportedly still heard beneath the rubble, the death toll could rise further.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the Gaza building collapse?
Reported death tolls varied through the day, ranging from at least 12 to at least 21 killed, according to different outlets including the BBC, Sky News and the Guardian.
Why did the building collapse?
The building had been damaged by an Israeli strike last year, according to the BBC, and collapsed overnight while sheltering displaced families.
How many people were trapped?
Earlier Guardian reporting said about 100 people, including 50 children, were believed trapped, while later reports referred to dozens of people, including children, still missing beneath the rubble.
Timeline
- At least 21 killed after Israeli-hit building in Gaza City collapses
The Guardian World: Rescue workers say search for dozens of people hampered by lack of heavy machinery A building housing about 100 displaced Palestinian families has collapsed in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people in their sleep, including 11 children, forcing rescuers to dig through the rubble
- At least 20 killed as multi-storey building collapses in Gaza City
Al Jazeera: Rescuers are searching through the rubble for survivors after a damaged apartment building collapsed overnight in Gaza.
- Eight children among 21 killed after war-damaged Gaza building collapses, rescuers say
BBC World: Dozens of people are missing beneath the rubble of a building hit by an Israeli strike last year, where some 10 families had been living.
- At least 20 killed after Israeli-hit building in Gaza City collapses
The Guardian World: Rescue workers say search for dozens of people hampered by lack of heavy machinery A building housing about 100 displaced Palestinian families has collapsed in Gaza City, killing at least 20 people, as rescuers search the rubble for dozens of people believed to be trapped, includ
- At least 19 killed after building in Gaza City damaged by Israeli strikes collapses
The Guardian World: Rescue workers say search for dozens of people hampered by lack of heavy machinery A building housing about 100 displaced Palestinian families collapsed on Wednesday in Gaza City, killing at least 19 people, as rescuers searched the rubble for dozens of people including children
- At least 20 killed and dozens trapped after war-damaged Gaza building collapses
Sky News: At least 20 Palestinians, including six children, who were sheltering in a bombed-out apartment building in Gaza have been killed after the structure collapsed overnight.
- At least 21 killed and dozens trapped after war-damaged Gaza building collapses
Sky News: At least 21 Palestinians who were sheltering in a bombed-out apartment building in Gaza have been killed after the structure collapsed overnight.
- At least 12 killed after building in Gaza City damaged by Israeli strikes collapses
The Guardian World: Rescue workers say search for about 100 people, including 50 children, hampered by lack of heavy machinery A building housing displaced Palestinian families collapsed on Wednesday in Gaza City, killing at least 12 people, as rescuers searched the rubble for about 100 people inclu
- At least 20 killed after war-damaged Gaza building collapses
BBC World: Dozens of people are missing beneath the rubble of the building in Gaza City, where 10 families had reportedly been living.
- At least 12 killed after war-damaged Gaza building collapses
BBC World: Dozens of people are missing beneath the rubble of the building in Gaza City, where 10 families had reportedly been living.