In a tragic incident in the Bab al-Tabbaneh area of Tripoli, northern Lebanon, a five-story building collapsed on Sunday afternoon, resulting in numerous injuries and some fatalities, although exact figures are yet to be confirmed. Emergency services and citizen volunteers launched extensive search and rescue operations amidst desperate efforts to locate people trapped under the rubble. The building was known to house a significant number of residents, raising fears about entire families being caught in the disaster.

Witness reports from Al Jazeera's correspondent at the scene described a significant state of alert in the region, with Civil Defense teams and the Lebanese Red Cross mobilizing resources quickly to assist in the rescue. The local community actively participated in the effort, helping to clear debris and create openings within the collapsed structure to facilitate rescue operation access. So far, four individuals have been reported as rescued from beneath the rubble, with ongoing searches for more potential survivors.

As rescue attempts continue, civil defense personnel have urged crowds to retreat and clear the area to ensure the safety of both rescue workers and victims still potentially trapped. The incident raises serious concerns about building safety regulations in the area, particularly given the number of residents reported to be living in the collapsed structure. The potential for additional casualties underscores the urgent need for comprehensive safety assessments and disaster preparedness in the local community.