Rescue teams say dozens remain trapped under the rubble of a multi-storey apartment block that had been struck in earlier fighting.
At least 20 people, including five children, have been killed and dozens more are missing after a war-damaged residential building collapsed overnight in western Gaza City, Palestinian rescue teams and health officials said.bbc+5
The six-storey building in the Tal al-Hawa area—on or near al-Sinaa (Industry) Street—gave way in the early hours of Wednesday, crushing apartments and nearby tents where displaced families had been sheltering, according to Gaza's Civil Defence and local witnesses.reuters+5
What happened
Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said the structure had previously been hit by Israeli bombardment during the war, leaving it cracked and unsafe before it collapsed. Residents told reporters that about 10 families—roughly 80 to 100 people—had been living in the building despite warnings about its condition, because they had few alternatives.bbc+4
Health ministry figures evolved through the day: an initial statement put the death toll at 16 with more than 25 injured, while later updates from the Health Information Center and Civil Defence cited at least 20 dead, including five children, with dozens still unaccounted for. Some local reports and Civil Defence briefings at the scene suggested the number of people potentially trapped could be as high as 100, though exact figures remained unclear as rescue work continued.reuters+8
Rescue efforts hampered by equipment shortages
Footage from the site showed rescuers and neighbours digging through compressed floors and concrete slabs, at times using basic hand tools before heavier machinery arrived. Civil Defence officials said tight Israeli restrictions on equipment entering Gaza had initially left teams working “with empty hands,” though they later managed to borrow some heavy machinery to speed up the operation.bbc+3
Raed al-Dahshan, director of Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, told a news conference at the scene that crews could still hear voices under the rubble, meaning some survivors might remain, but warned that the lack of resources was severely slowing the response. He called for the urgent entry of excavators and specialized rescue gear, cautioning that more damaged buildings across Gaza could fail, especially as winter approaches.middleeasteye+1
Wider context of strikes and casualties
The collapse came as Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed at least five Palestinians on Tuesday, including two children and a Hamas commander, according to Palestinian health officials and Hamas sources; the Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas commander in southern Gaza and another fighter in the north, with a child also reportedly killed in each case. Separately, the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians said one of its supported health centres in Jabalia was hit by an Israeli drone strike that killed a patient.bbc
What happens next
Search-and-rescue operations were continuing into Wednesday, coordinated with Gaza Municipality, the Egyptian Committee, the Arab Authority and the International Committee of the Red Cross, with support from the UN Development Programme, according to Civil Defence. Officials said recovery could take a long time without adequate equipment, and that the incident underscored the risk of further collapses in buildings weakened by months of fighting.nytimes+3
KEY FACTS:
● At least 20 people, including five children, have been confirmed dead; dozens more are missing or trapped, with some estimates suggesting up to 100 could be under the rubble.reuters+7
● The six-storey residential building in Tal al-Hawa/al-Sinaa area had been damaged in earlier Israeli strikes before collapsing overnight, Civil Defence says.reuters+4
● Rescue teams report severe shortages of heavy machinery and tools, slowing efforts to reach survivors; some equipment was later borrowed to assist operations.bbc+2
SOURCES:
● BBC News – “At least 20 killed after war-damaged Gaza building collapses” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvp8d00j9gg5obbc
● Al Jazeera – “Gaza building collapse kills at least 21, traps dozens under rubble” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/16/gaza-residential-building-collapses-six-families-reportedly-trappedaljazeera
● Middle East Monitor – “5 children among 20 Palestinians killed as war-damaged building collapses in Gaza City” https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260916-5-children-among-20-palestinians-killed-as-war-damaged-building-collapses-in-gaza-city/middleeastmonitor
● The New Arab – “20 dead, dozens missing after war-damaged building falls in Gaza” https://www.newarab.com/news/20-dead-dozens-missing-after-war-damaged-building-falls-gazanewarab
● Reuters – “War-damaged Gaza building collapses, killing 12 people seeking shelter inside” https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/war-damaged-gaza-building-collapses-killing-12-people-seeking-shelter-inside-2026-09-16/reuters
● Tasnim News – “Gaza Rescue Teams Warn of More Disastrous Incidents As Winter Approaches” https://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/09/16/3698284/gaza-rescue-teams-warn-of-more-disastrous-incidents-as-winter-approachestasnimnews
● Middle East Eye – “Dozens trapped under rubble in Gaza after Israeli-hit building collapses” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-scores-trapped-under-rubble-after-israeli-hit-building-collapsesmiddleeasteye
● Hurriyet Daily News – “Gaza apartment block collapse leaves 20 dead, many missing” https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/amp/gaza-apartment-block-collapse-leaves-20-dead-many-missing-226958hurriyetdailynews
● The Daily Star – “Gaza civil defence says toll from building collapse rises to 20 including 5 children” https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/news/gaza-civil-defence-says-toll-building-collapse-rises-20-including-5-children-4274446thedailystar
● Times of Israel – “20 reported dead, dozens missing after damaged Gaza City building collapses” https://www.timesofisrael.com/20-reported-dead-dozens-missing-after-damaged-gaza-city-building-collapses/
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