At least 14 killed as winter storms batter Gaza: civil defense

At least 14 people were killed in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours as homes collapsed and tents sheltering displaced families were flooded during a powerful winter storm, Gaza's Civil Defense said on Friday.

The fatalities included three children who died from hypothermia, while others were found under the rubble of homes destroyed by heavy rain and strong winds, particularly in Gaza City and northern areas of the enclave, the Civil Defense said.

From Wednesday evening through Friday, the Gaza Strip has been battered by heavy storms and cold weather, leaving the displaced families facing harsh and unsafe conditions. Fragile tents and makeshift shelters, where at least 1.5 million Palestinians are living, offer no real protection from the storms.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman of the Palestinian Civil Defense said on Friday that the severe weather has intensified the humanitarian emergency, with the death toll standing at 13 at the time of his statement.

"The weather system affecting Gaza is extremely severe. We are talking about house collapses and the complete destruction of more than a dozen buildings. Dozens of other buildings have partially collapsed, which is why we are reporting 13 victims. More than 90 percent of citizens' tents in Gaza have been completely flooded. In some areas, water levels have risen to more than one meter," he said.

Hiba Al-Yazji, a displaced Palestinian, recalled how a sudden massive influx of water inundated her tent during the night.

"We were flooded. It was like a massive surge of water. I stood in our tent at night with my daughter, and it felt like a pool, with water flowing in from all sides. Since Wednesday, I haven't slept at all, I swear to that. We spread our mattresses out to dry, and now it's going to rain again. Everything in my kitchen has fallen apart," she said.

Other displaced Palestinians have faced similar hardships amid the winds and downpours.

"We have been suffering since the weather system began. I haven't slept for three days. Whenever the rain intensifies, we keep moving inside the shelter. Last night, the plastic roof collapsed on us because of the heavy rain. We spent the night pushing water out, afraid it would flood our tent. My little daughter couldn't sleep at all last night because of the cold," said Dina Khattab.

At least 14 killed as winter storms batter Gaza: civil defense

At least 14 killed as winter storms batter Gaza: civil defense

At least 14 killed as winter storms batter Gaza: civil defense

At least 14 killed as winter storms batter Gaza: civil defense

A taxi fleet has been offering free rides to residents and victims in the wake of the recent catastrophic residential building fire in Hong Kong, one of the region's deadliest disasters in decades.

The fire, which broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po on November 26, had claimed 160 lives by Tuesday, with six people still listed as missing, according to authorities.

In response, the "Big Bee" taxi fleet, operated by Sino Development (International) Company, joined several volunteer groups in providing free rides for affected residents.

Beyond transporting displaced survivors, the fleet also assisted in moving donated supplies and volunteers to and from the area.

"In the first few days, drivers came to the site voluntarily to offer help. There were many firefighters and rescuers on site. During the ten days from December 1 to 10, we offered about 100 free rides daily on average, serving roughly 300 residents and fire victims each day," said Sam Wong, founder and CEO of Sino Development (International) Company.

"We are very willing to take part in this effort. Every driver is," said Lui Kai-wa, a taxi driver.

As most displaced residents have now been relocated through government coordination, volunteer taxi drivers are gradually returning to their regular routes.

More than 2,500 displaced residents have moved into transitional housing units, with Hong Kong's Transport Department providing additional public transport services to meet commuting needs.

"There is a gradual decrease in usage, as much of the transportation need for people and supplies has already been completed. Demand is clearly declining," Lui said.

Wong also praised the government's role in the relief work.

"Over the past few days, we've seen the government carry out a tremendous amount of work, especially in response to such a big and serious disaster. Its role has been very significant," Wong said.

Taxi feet offers free rides to residents, victims in wake of deadly Hong Kong residential building fire