A building in Gaza City that had reportedly been damaged in earlier attacks collapsed on September 16, 2026. At least 16 people were killed after the collapse, and more people may have been trapped under the rubble. About six displaced Palestinian families were staying in the building.
Gaza Civil Defense teams continued search-and-rescue operations to reach those trapped under the rubble. The work was carried out among sections of the heavily damaged structure, while the rescue teams had limited equipment and resources to clear the debris and reach those trapped.
Different figures emerge over number of people under rubble
Initial reports also said that about 100 people remained under the rubble, at least 50 of them children. However, these figures were not considered a confirmed result within the same scope as the initial toll of at least 16 deaths. The number of fatalities and people trapped under the rubble was expected to become clearer as search operations progressed.
The building had reportedly been heavily damaged by earlier Israeli attacks and had become dangerous to live in. There was no definitive explanation as to whether the collapse on September 16 resulted from a new attack or from structural weakness caused by the earlier damage.
Damaged buildings continue to be used as shelters
Many buildings damaged or partially destroyed during the war in Gaza continue to be used because safe shelter is in short supply. Limited repair options and a lack of heavy rescue equipment increase the risks posed by these structures and make it more difficult to reach people trapped under the rubble.
Earlier Israeli attacks in Gaza destroyed or heavily damaged homes, schools and buildings used as shelters. The attack on the Engineers Building on October 31, 2023, in which at least 106 civilians, including 54 children, were reportedly killed, was among the earlier examples of the risks faced by structures used as homes and shelters in the region. That incident was separate from the building collapse on September 16.
