The death toll from a building collapse in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, has climbed to nine, civil defence officials confirmed on Sunday, marking the second deadly incident in the city in recent weeks.
Rescue teams worked through the night in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighbourhood, one of Tripoli’s poorest areas, searching for survivors amid the rubble. Six people were rescued and rushed to hospital, said civil defence director general Imad Khreish.
The collapsed structure consisted of two blocks, each containing six apartments, with an estimated 22 residents inside at the time of the collapse, Khreish told local media. Nearby buildings were evacuated over fears of further structural failures.
Local activist Jumana al-Shahal condemned the tragedy as “a testament to the accumulated neglect of this forgotten city.” Tripoli Mayor Abdel Hamid Karimeh declared the city disaster-stricken, citing the prevalence of unsafe buildings. “Thousands of our people are threatened due to years of neglect. The situation is beyond the capabilities of the Tripoli municipality,” he said.
Following the collapse, angry young men took to the streets on motorbikes, reportedly targeting politicians’ offices and vandalising barriers, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.
The building was not listed among structures at imminent risk, though January municipal statistics indicated 105 buildings in Tripoli required immediate evacuation warnings.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the incident as a “humanitarian catastrophe” stemming from “long years of accumulated neglect.” He called an emergency meeting with the justice and interior ministers and pledged housing assistance for displaced residents. Justice Minister Adel Nassar ordered an immediate investigation by the northern public prosecutor.
Lebanon is home to numerous derelict and illegally expanded buildings, many dating back to the 1975-1990 civil war. A recent Public Works Studio report cited unplanned urban growth and weak construction oversight as major contributors to such collapses. Amnesty International warned in 2024 that thousands in Tripoli still live in unsafe buildings, a crisis worsened by Lebanon’s prolonged economic struggles, leaving residents unable to afford repairs or alternative housing.
