A devastating collapse of two residential buildings in Tripoli, Lebanon, has claimed the lives of 15 individuals, with authorities expressing fears that more victims may still be unaccounted for. This tragic incident, the fifth of its kind in the city this winter, has reignited discussions regarding the dire state of neglected infrastructure in one of Lebanon’s most impoverished urban areas.
Emergency Response and Casualties
According to state media reports, the Civil Defence director general, Imad Khreiss, confirmed that eight residents were successfully rescued from the rubble. The two adjoining buildings, which housed a total of 22 people, crumbled almost simultaneously, creating a significant crater where they once stood. Eyewitness footage captured the heart-stopping moment of the collapse, with a massive cloud of dust and debris engulfing the street.
Local officials have raised concerns about potential additional victims still trapped beneath the rubble. Following the incident, large crowds gathered at the site, highlighting the community’s distress over the latest tragedy.
Longstanding Neglect and Structural Issues
Tripoli’s mayor, Abdel Hamid Karimeh, has been vocal about the city’s long-standing issues with neglected infrastructure. He stated, “Thousands of our people in Tripoli are threatened due to years of neglect,” underscoring the inadequacies faced by the local municipality in addressing these urgent safety concerns. In light of the catastrophe, Karimeh has submitted his resignation to the interior minister, labelling Tripoli as a “disaster-stricken” area.
President Joseph Aoun has pledged to monitor the situation closely and has called for nationwide mobilisation of rescue teams. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam characterised the incident as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” assuring that the government stands ready to assist those displaced by the collapse. He attributed the tragedy to “years of accumulated neglect” that have plagued the region.
A Pattern of Building Failures
This incident follows closely on the heels of prior emergencies, including the evacuation of residents from a nearby structure due to concerning structural damage. Just two weeks earlier, a father and daughter tragically lost their lives in another building collapse, further emphasising the urgent need for action.
Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city, has been grappling with a persistent economic crisis that has led to inadequate maintenance and weak regulatory oversight of its buildings. Last month, the head of the Higher Relief Authority noted that over 100 buildings in the city were under evacuation warnings, revealing the extent of the infrastructural crisis.
Authorities have pointed out that many structures were erected illegally or lack proper permits, particularly during the tumultuous civil war from 1975 to 1990. This lack of oversight has resulted in buildings being expanded without due diligence, placing thousands of residents at risk, especially during the harsh winter months.
Calls for Accountability
In response to the escalating crisis, the national syndicate for property owners released a statement attributing the catastrophe to “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security.” They are urging the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of buildings susceptible to collapse, highlighting the urgent need for a systemic overhaul of safety protocols.
Why it Matters
The tragic collapse of the buildings in Tripoli serves as a stark reminder of the broader systemic failures within Lebanon that have left countless citizens vulnerable. As the nation grapples with economic turmoil and infrastructural decay, the need for urgent reforms and comprehensive safety assessments has never been more critical. This incident not only underscores the immediate human cost of neglect but also calls for a renewed commitment to safeguarding the lives of those living in precarious conditions across the country.
