A heavily damaged apartment building collapsed in Gaza City overnight, killing at least 20 people and leaving rescue crews searching for others beneath the rubble.
Local officials said the victims included children and that more people may still be trapped. The building had previously been damaged during Israeli strikes but continued to shelter displaced families who had few safer places to go.
Rescue work has been slowed by a shortage of heavy machinery. Civil defense teams and residents have been digging through debris by hand in some areas, a recurring problem across Gaza as damaged structures remain occupied.
United Nations officials have warned that thousands of people are living in buildings considered unsafe because housing alternatives are scarce. The collapse highlights a danger that persists even away from active strikes: homes weakened by months of war can fail without warning.
Reporting based on Reuters, AP and regional reporting. Featured image: Saifee Art via Unsplash, used illustratively.
