A Palestinian worker died when a smuggling tunnel on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt collapsed Wednesday, medical sources said.

Medics at Abu Yusuf al Najjar hospital in Rafah city identified the man as Sulieman al-Masri, 24.

Two other workers were injured in the tunnel cave-in, the medics added.

Human rights groups in Gaza claim that more than 200 workers have been killed in tunnel collapse accidents since 2006.

The Hamas authority is running a giant network of tunnels used to bring in goods into the blockaded territory.

Demand on smuggled goods declined dramatically when Israel eased the blockade and allowed more goods to flow into Gaza through overland crossing points last year.

Meanwhile, Egypt has blocked many tunnels after it accused Gaza militants of being engaged in the killing of 16 Egyptian soldiers near Rafah last month.