GAZA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A residential building in Gaza City collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people, according to Gaza's Civil Defense service.
Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua that the victims included eight children and six women. More than 25 people were injured, while the fate of around 100 people remains unknown.
The building, previously damaged by Israeli strikes, was six stories tall and housed nearly 100 people, with dozens of tents in its vicinity.
Basal warned that some 2,000 dilapidated residential buildings across the Gaza Strip remain inhabited and at risk of collapse.
Civil Defense crews continued efforts to recover victims and search for survivors, Basal said, adding that Israeli authorities have not allowed heavy equipment to enter the Gaza Strip.
Hamas held Israel responsible for the collapse. In a statement, the movement said the situation was compounded by an acute shortage of debris-removal machinery and rescue equipment, and called for urgent international action to allow heavy machinery and civil defense equipment into the Gaza Strip.
Hamas also called on mediators, the U.S. administration and relevant international organizations to work to remove restrictions on the entry of rescue equipment. ■
