The death toll from the collapse of two residential buildings in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has risen to 15, state media reported. Eight people were rescued alive, as civil defense workers continue to assess the site.
According to Civil Defence director general Imad Khreiss, the two adjoining structures housed 22 residents, although municipal authorities have cautioned that more occupants could still be unaccounted for.
Social media footage captured the catastrophic moment when one side of the buildings gave way, leading to an almost simultaneous collapse of both structures. The unfortunate incident marks the fifth such disaster in Tripoli this winter, igniting concerns about the safety of older, poorly maintained buildings in Lebanon's poorest city.
Video footage depicted a thick cloud of dust enveloping the street as the buildings crumbled and collapsed, drawing large crowds to the scene of devastation. In response to this tragedy, Tripoli's mayor, Abdel Hamid Karimeh, highlighted the long-standing neglect faced by the city, stating that 'thousands of our people in Tripoli are threatened due to years of neglect.' He announced plans to resign to signify the urgency of the crisis.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has pledged to monitor the situation closely, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has described the collapse as a 'humanitarian catastrophe' and promised government assistance to affected residents.
The devastating incident follows recent warnings for evacuations of buildings in the area due to structural issues. Tripoli remains plagued by building failures amid an ongoing economic crisis and inadequate oversight, which has left many structures vulnerable during the harsh winter months.
Authorities have noted that the lack of regulatory enforcement has allowed dangerous practices such as illegal construction and unauthorized expansions, contributing significantly to the ongoing risk to residents. The national syndicate for property owners has called for immediate assessments of buildings across Lebanon to prevent further tragedies.
According to Civil Defence director general Imad Khreiss, the two adjoining structures housed 22 residents, although municipal authorities have cautioned that more occupants could still be unaccounted for.
Social media footage captured the catastrophic moment when one side of the buildings gave way, leading to an almost simultaneous collapse of both structures. The unfortunate incident marks the fifth such disaster in Tripoli this winter, igniting concerns about the safety of older, poorly maintained buildings in Lebanon's poorest city.
Video footage depicted a thick cloud of dust enveloping the street as the buildings crumbled and collapsed, drawing large crowds to the scene of devastation. In response to this tragedy, Tripoli's mayor, Abdel Hamid Karimeh, highlighted the long-standing neglect faced by the city, stating that 'thousands of our people in Tripoli are threatened due to years of neglect.' He announced plans to resign to signify the urgency of the crisis.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has pledged to monitor the situation closely, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has described the collapse as a 'humanitarian catastrophe' and promised government assistance to affected residents.
The devastating incident follows recent warnings for evacuations of buildings in the area due to structural issues. Tripoli remains plagued by building failures amid an ongoing economic crisis and inadequate oversight, which has left many structures vulnerable during the harsh winter months.
Authorities have noted that the lack of regulatory enforcement has allowed dangerous practices such as illegal construction and unauthorized expansions, contributing significantly to the ongoing risk to residents. The national syndicate for property owners has called for immediate assessments of buildings across Lebanon to prevent further tragedies.
