As the fire broke out, residents were attending a party in the building. Witnesses reported hearing screams but were unable to assist those inside due to the intensity of the fire.
Officials say at least 21 people were killed and several others were injured in a fire at a residential building in a Gaza refugee camp.
The flames that engulfed the top floor of a four-story residential building in the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish.
Residents were attending a party in the building, and witnesses said they heard screaming but couldn’t help those inside due to the intensity of the fire.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) tweeted that reports say among those killed include eight children, four women and one retired UNRWA staff.
Ambulances rushed those who were injured to local hospitals and Israel, which together with Egypt maintains a blockade on Gaza, said it would allow in those in need of medical treatment.
Gaza’s Interior Ministry said an initial investigation revealed that large amounts of gasoline had been stored at the site, fuelling the blaze. It was not clear how the gasoline was ignited.
Footage from the scene shows large crowds gathering outside the building, while Hamas police officers inside assess the site.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a national tragedy and said there would be a day of mourning.
Hussein al Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in a statement that the Palestinian Authority urged Israel to open the Erez crossing with Gaza to transport serious cases in order to treat them outside the enclave if necessary.
Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz tweeted that his staff would assist with evacuating those who were injured.