Six Dead, Seven Injured in Tripoli Building Collapse
Six people have died and seven others were injured after two adjoining buildings collapsed in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. The incident occurred in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood.
Rescue Operations Underway
Abdel Hamid Karimeh, head of the municipal council, stated that rescue operations are ongoing. Civil defense teams, supported by the Lebanese Red Cross and other emergency agencies, are leading the search efforts for individuals who may still be trapped under the rubble. Residents also joined in the rescue efforts.
The State-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that eight injured individuals had been rescued.
Official Response and Evacuations
Internal Security Forces and Tripoli municipal police have evacuated adjacent residential buildings due to fears of further collapses. The Lebanese army has deployed personnel to the area to assist.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ordered all emergency services to be on high alert to assist with rescue operations and provide shelter for evacuated residents, according to the NNA.
Government Pledge and Underlying Causes
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the government is prepared to provide housing allowances for residents of buildings requiring evacuation.
He attributed the catastrophe to "years of accumulated neglect."
Lebanon's infrastructure has been affected by prolonged neglect, economic challenges, corruption, and past conflicts.