Witnesses recount struggle to save people buried in ‘horrifying’ Gaza landslide

High winds and heavy train triggered collapse of sand bank overlooking camp for displaced families

Witnesses have described the frantic struggle to save three members of a family buried by a landslide triggered by high winds and heavy rain in Gaza.

A sand bank overlooking a camp for displaced families south of Deir al-Balah collapsed on Sunday, killing five people and crushing at least three tents.

“It was a horrifying sight,” said Abdul Karim al-Sahhar, 30, originally from Izbat Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. “We saw people buried beneath the sand and rocks. None of them was moving or making a sound. Even the tent had disappeared completely. There was no trace of it left.”