Region | Palestinian Territories
5 Palestinians killed in Gaza tunnel collapse
Palestinian medics say five people were killed when a tunnel under the Gaza border collapsed.
- AP
- Published: 12:13 March 1, 2009
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
- Gazans use tunnels to smuggle in goods that are not available in the territory.
Gaza City: Palestinian medics say five people were killed when a tunnel under the Gaza border collapsed.
Health official Dr. Moawia Hassanein says another person is missing in the cave-in. He says the collapse was caused by heavy winter rain.
Gazans use tunnels to smuggle in goods that are not available in the territory because of Israel and Egypt's blockade of its borders.
Militants also use the tunnels to bring in weapons.
Many tunnels suffered major damage in Israeli bombing raids in an attempt to halt the arms smuggling. Egypt also tries to destroy tunnel entrances on its side of the border.
The latest deaths, which occurred late on Saturday or early on Sunday brought to 13 the number Palestinians killed this year in tunnelling accidents.
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