At least 21 people have been killed and several others injured following a fire at a residential building in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, officials say.
It took firefighters over an hour to control the flames which burst through the top floor of a four-storey residential building in the densely-populated Jabalia refugee camp.
Residents had been attending a party in the building, while witnesses said they heard screaming but added that they could not help those inside because of 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.
