Nine killed in Lebanon building collapse

At least nine people have been killed after two dangerous buildings collapsed in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli, officials said, with several others injured, Al Jazeera reported. On Sunday night (February 8), Civil Defense Director General Imad Khreish told Lebanese media that nine people had died in the accident. However, six of the rescued people had been hospitalized.
He said the building was divided into two blocks, each with six apartments. Local residents believe that at least 22 people were inside when the building collapsed. Efforts are underway to rescue those trapped in the rubble. Civil Defense teams, along with the Lebanese Red Crescent and various emergency and relief agencies, are taking part in the rescue operation. Local residents have also come forward to help with the rescue efforts. They have helped clear the rubble and create gaps in the building to reach the trapped people.
Tripoli Mayor Abdel Hamid Karimeh told reporters that Tripoli was being declared a “disaster-hit city” due to unsafe buildings. He said that “years of neglect have put thousands of people in Tripoli at risk. The situation is beyond the control of the Tripoli municipality.” The Lebanese state news agency National News Agency (NNA) reported that residential buildings around the collapsed building were also evacuated, considering them risky. Members of the Internal Security Forces and Tripoli Municipal Police took part in the operation. According to the NNA, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ordered all emergency services to be on high alert to assist in rescue operations. He also ordered residents of nearby buildings to be provided with shelter. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement that the government was fully prepared to provide housing assistance to all residents of buildings that needed to be evacuated. “This terrible humanitarian disaster is the result of years of accumulated neglect.” “I call on all political leaders in Tripoli and other regions to respect the lives of the victims and not exploit this tragic accident for cheap and short-sighted political gains,” he said. Justice Minister Adel Nasser has ordered the public prosecutor in the northern region to immediately launch an investigation into the incident, the National Association (NA) reported. The necessary legal procedures have already been initiated.