At Least 10 Killed, 20 Injured When East Jerusalem Coffeehouse Collapses

A coffeehouse in Arab East Jerusalem collapsed Saturday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 20 others, police said.

Army disaster crews, emergency workers and volunteers worked in the rain into the early morning today to reach dozens of people trapped in the rubble.

“As of now six bodies have arrived at Mokassed Hospital, and there are four more now being removed from the site,” said Jerusalem Police Chief Chaim Albaldes.

Tractors removed gravestones and earth that fell onto the rubble after a cemetery wall overlooking the cafe gave way.

Police said the weight of snow piled on the roof during recent storms may have contributed.

The owner of the Paradise Garden cafe, located near the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City wall, was trapped, along with two of his sons.

A third son, Saif Ma’abed, told reporters: “Suddenly we heard a noise of something falling on the roof. Father asked me to go outside to see what it was. Just when I got to the stairs many stones fell, the roof fell on the people.

“They had no time to get out, no time to scream, no time to do anything.”

Mayor Teddy Kollek told reporters at the scene: “In 26 years in office I cannot remember a disaster like this.”