A tragic incident occurred in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, where a building collapsed, claiming the lives of at least nine individuals and injuring several others. According to the head of civil protection, Imad Haris, nine fatalities were confirmed, and six individuals were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. The building, which comprised two sections with six apartments each, was believed to have housed around 22 people at the time of the collapse.

The building, which was reportedly old, was located in the impoverished neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh, prompting security forces to evacuate residents from neighboring buildings as a precautionary measure, as stated by the Lebanese news agency ANI. As rescue teams worked through the night amidst the rubble, ambulances remained on standby nearby, highlighting the ongoing efforts to search for any remaining survivors or victims trapped under the debris.

This incident marks the second building collapse of its kind in the region, drawing attention to potential structural safety issues prevalent in older urban areas of Lebanon. The collapsing structure raises concerns about building regulations and safety standards, particularly in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods where older buildings are more common, and further investigations are expected to take place as the recovery efforts continue.