Gaza- Two underground tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border used for smuggling collapsed Thursday, killing two Palestinians, medical officials said.

The fatalities were named as Ibraheem Zu'rob, 19 and Ahmed Slaikh, 23. Officials at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital said they were already dead when they were brought to the hospital.

Tunnel collapses under the Gaza-Egypt border have become more frequent of late as Egypt steps up its efforts to combat the smuggling of goods and weapons into the salient.

Local residents at the Palestinian city of Rafah estimate that hundreds of tunnels are dug under the security fence with Egypt. The tunnels are used to smuggle fuel, food, medicine, cloth and other types of scarce commodities.

Hamas, which controls Gaza Strip, licenses the tunnels to reduce public pressure on the Islamic movement which took over control of Gaza Strip by force, leading Israel to close the commercial crossing points into the salient. (dpa)