Five dead in Lebanon's dilapidated building collapse, with people still trapped under rubble; second accident in a week

News Topical, Digital Desk : The death toll has risen to five in an accident that occurred on Sunday in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, where an old, dilapidated building  suddenly collapsed.

The people living there were caught in the fire. This is the second such incident in a week. Rescue teams are currently searching for survivors at the site.

Building collapses in Tripoli, northern Lebanon

The state-run National News Agency reported the collapse of an old building in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood, one of the city's poorest. The agency said security forces had evacuated nearby buildings, fearing further collapses.

Eight people have been rescued so far, while five bodies have been recovered, including those of a child and an elderly woman. Civil Defence chief Imad Khreesh told local media that the building consisted of two blocks, each containing six apartments.

"Emergency services have been requested to assist in rescue operations and be prepared to shelter residents of the building and those in neighbouring buildings who have been evacuated as a precaution," a statement from President Joseph Aoun's office said.

The problem of dilapidated buildings in Lebanon

Lebanon has many old and dilapidated buildings, many of which are in very poor condition. Many were built illegally, especially during the 1975-1990 civil war, while some owners have added new floors to existing apartment blocks without permits.

In 2024, rights group Amnesty International reported that thousands of people in Tripoli were still living in unsafe buildings, more than a year after an earthquake weakened buildings in Turkey and neighboring Syria.

The situation has been exacerbated by Lebanon's years-long economic crisis, which has deprived residents of the means to afford repairs or alternative housing, the report said.

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