Fourteen Dead in Latest Lebanon Building Collapse as Warnings of Neglect Mount
Fifth Residential Collapse This Winter Highlights Risks from Poor Maintenance and Weak Oversight in Lebanon
- Two adjoining buildings in Tripoli collapse, killing 14 and leaving eight rescued alive.
- Officials cite years of neglect, illegal construction, and weak regulation as key factors.
- Authorities call for nationwide inspections to prevent further disasters.
The death toll from the collapse of two residential buildings in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has risen to 14, according to state media, with eight people rescued alive, Civil Defence Director General Imad Khreiss reported.
The two adjoining buildings were home to 22 residents, though local municipal authorities warned that some individuals could still be missing. Social media footage captured the collapse, showing one side of the buildings give way at the lower floors before both structures fell almost simultaneously, sending thick clouds of dust and debris into the street.
The disaster is the fifth residential building collapse in Tripoli this winter, raising concerns about the safety of old and poorly maintained structures in Lebanon’s second-largest city.
Crowds quickly gathered around the site, now a crater where the buildings once stood. Tripoli Mayor Abdel Hamid Karimeh described the city as suffering from long-term neglect:
“Thousands of our people in Tripoli are threatened due to years of neglect. The situation is beyond the capabilities of the Tripoli municipality.”
Karimeh later announced his resignation to the interior minister, calling Tripoli “disaster-stricken.”
President Joseph Aoun said he was monitoring the situation and urged rescue workers nationwide to mobilize. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the collapse as a “humanitarian catastrophe”, pledging government support:
“The government is fully prepared to provide accommodation for all residents of buildings that need to be evacuated. This disaster is the result of years of accumulated neglect.”
The latest collapse follows the evacuation of a nearby building due to structural cracks and comes just two weeks after another deadly collapse, which killed a father and daughter.
Tripoli has experienced repeated building failures amid years of economic crisis, insufficient maintenance, and weak regulation. Authorities estimate that over 100 buildings in the city require evacuation warnings. Many residential blocks were constructed illegally or without permits, particularly during Lebanon’s 1975–1990 civil war, and others have been expanded with additional floors without proper oversight.
In a statement, the National Syndicate for Property Owners blamed the collapse on “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” urging a nationwide assessment of buildings at risk.
