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Gaza civil defence officials updated the toll from the building collapse that took place in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City. The agency placed the number of injured at 14 while operations to locate those still missing continued into Wednesday afternoon. Its data indicated that the victims included members of several displaced families who had been residing in the previously struck structure.
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Gaza civil defence, told Al Jazeera that civil defence teams are still working to recover martyrs from under the rubble and search for missing people. He added that until now there are nearly 100 Palestinians still under the rubble of this building. Footage verified by multiple outlets depicted teams pulling children from the wreckage as residents assisted in the manual search.
The Government Media Office in Gaza said in a statement that the collapsed building consisting of six floors with four residential apartments on each floor had been directly targeted during the war. This targeting weakened its structural integrity and ultimately caused the collapse according to the office. The statement assigned direct responsibility to the Israeli occupation and the international community for the deaths.
Raed Al-Dahshan the director of Gaza City civil defence service said at least 10 families lived in the collapsed building. Dahshan noted that rescuers were still hearing voices from under the rubble so there is still hope to find people. He warned that the limited availability of shelter options forced residents to move into the building believing it was safe before it collapsed entirely on them as they slept.
The Gaza civil defence service has said that about 2,000 damaged buildings remain inhabited by families across the enclave posing similar risks. Its officials have urged people to stay away from such structures yet the lack of alternatives has left many with few choices. This incident brings renewed attention to the broader issue of unsafe housing following extensive damage from the conflict.
Civil defence teams worked alongside local residents to reach those trapped with some survivors including young children being rescued and transported by ambulance. Basal carried one young girl from the scene in verified images that circulated widely. The agency continues to appeal for support as it deals with the aftermath of the disaster.
