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A 7-story apartment building in Gaza City, severely damaged during the Israel-Hamas war, collapsed, resulting in at least 20 deaths, including 6 children. According to the Palestinian Civil Defense on the 16th (local time), 20 bodies have been recovered from the rubble, and 14 people have been rescued with injuries. It is estimated that there were 10 families inside the building at the time of the collapse, with nearly 100 residents likely living there. Many people are still trapped under the debris, raising the possibility of more casualties.
Raed al-Dahshan, head of the Gaza City Civil Defense, stated, "We can still hear voices from beneath the rubble," expressing hope for the rescue of survivors. Videos shared on social media show rescuers and residents digging through the fallen concrete piles to save people. However, the lack of heavy machinery has made rescue operations extremely difficult. Rescuers are relying on their bare hands and simple tools to conduct the search efforts.
Alessandro Mlakic, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) office in Gaza, emphasized that the conditions for rescue are extremely poor, citing the lack of heavy machinery due to Israel's strict controls on the entry of supplies. The Israeli side explains that this is a measure to prevent armed groups like Hamas from militarily repurposing the equipment. The collapsed apartment had already been severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes during the war, and it is reported that evacuees had taken the risk to stay there to escape the rain and cold. The Gaza Civil Defense has warned that there are about 2,000 damaged buildings across the Gaza Strip, with approximately 400 of them at immediate risk of collapse.