Tragically, the death toll from the collapse of two adjacent buildings in Tripoli, Lebanon, has now reached 15, according to the head of the civil protection service. The buildings collapsed yesterday, prompting rescue operations that managed to save eight people trapped under the rubble in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood of northern Lebanon. Officials stated that the search-and-rescue teams worked diligently to find survivors after the buildings fell, raising concerns about the safety of similar constructions in the area.

Imad Khraiss, who oversees the rescue operations, indicated that the disaster site still poses questions regarding the number of individuals potentially trapped beneath the debris, as the municipality's head, Abdel Hamid Karime, refrained from estimating how many might still be buried. It was earlier reported that the buildings had a total of 22 occupants, highlighting the critical situation and the urgent need for thorough investigations into the safety regulations governing such structures in Lebanon, which has experienced numerous similar tragedies in the past.

The incident raises significant concerns about the state of infrastructure in Lebanon and calls for an assessment of building standards. Given the country's history of neglect and poor building regulations, this tragedy may catalyze discussions about the need for stronger enforcement of safety standards to prevent such catastrophic events in the future. As rescue operations continue, many families remain in despair, hoping for news about their loved ones still unaccounted for, making this not just a local issue, but a national tragedy that reflects broader systemic challenges within Lebanon.