Building collapse in Gaza City kills at least 20 people

A damaged apartment building collapsed overnight in Gaza City, triggering an immediate emergency response from rescue teams working through the night to locate survivors. The structure, which had sustained prior damage, gave way in the early morning hours, trapping residents beneath tonnes of concrete and debris.

Authorities have confirmed at least 20 deaths resulting from the collapse, though the final toll may rise as recovery operations continue. First responders have established search zones across the collapsed site, utilizing specialised equipment and manual labour to carefully extract victims from the wreckage.

The exact cause of the structural failure is under investigation, though the building's pre-existing damage appears to have contributed to its sudden collapse. Local officials have indicated that further assessments of nearby structures are planned to prevent additional incidents in the densely populated area.

Rescue operations are expected to continue for several days as teams work systematically through the debris field. Preliminary reports suggest multiple families were residing in the building at the time of the collapse.