Gaza sewage sweeps through village, three dead

GAZA, Mar 27 (Reuters) Raw sewage erupted from holding pools and swept through a village in the northern Gaza Strip today, causing at least three deaths and many injuries, Palestinian rescue workers said.

They said dozens of residents of Gaza's small Bedouin Village were still unaccounted for after the sewage overflowed from ground-level treatment pools, knocking down many makeshift homes.

Hospital officials said at least 15 people were injured.

It was not immediately clear what caused the sewage to erupt from the pools.

Palestinian Interior Minister Hani al-Qawasmi, who rushed to the village to survey the damage, came under attack from angry gunmen who fired shots over his head, local witnesses said.

Qawasmi was whisked to safety in a police car.

REUTERS DKA DS1520