At least 16 Palestinians, including five children, have been killed after a war-damaged residential building collapsed in Gaza City on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
According to Reuters, the seven-storey apartment building collapsed overnight while displaced families were sheltering inside. At least 14 people were injured, while around 100 others were believed to remain trapped beneath the rubble. (Reuters)
The building had previously sustained damage during Israeli airstrikes during the war. Despite the damage, families had continued to live in the structure because of the severe shortage of safe accommodation in Gaza.
Rescue teams are working through the debris to locate survivors and recover victims. Their efforts have reportedly been hampered by a shortage of heavy machinery and other equipment needed to safely clear the rubble. (MarketScreener Canada)
The incident highlights the continuing dangers faced by displaced Palestinians living in damaged buildings. Reuters reports that approximately 2,000 damaged buildings across Gaza remain inhabited, with tens of thousands of people still living in unsafe structures because safer housing options are limited. (Reuters)
Earlier reports put the death toll lower, but the number increased as rescue workers recovered additional bodies. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, meaning the casualty figure could still change.
Rescue operations are continuing as authorities and humanitarian teams work to determine the full human cost of the collapse.
LegitCameroon #WorldNews #Gaza #Palestine #GazaNews #MiddleEast #BreakingNews