Tripoli, February 9, 2026 – The Europe Today: At least six people have been confirmed dead after a five-story residential building collapsed in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city, according to local authorities.
Tripoli Mayor Abdel Hamid Karima announced the casualties in a statement posted on his official account on the social media platform X. He said that six bodies had been recovered from under the rubble, while seven others were rescued alive, injured, and transferred to nearby hospitals.
“Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the number of victims and injured may increase,” Karima said, noting that emergency teams continue to search the debris.
The mayor added that he has formally requested the government to declare the historic Bab Tabbana neighborhood a disaster zone. The area has witnessed the collapse of two residential buildings in recent days following heavy rainfall, raising serious concerns over structural safety.
“We are urgently evacuating people from neighboring buildings that are in a state of disrepair,” Karima said, emphasizing the risk posed to residents in surrounding structures.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and pledged accountability. He vowed that “anyone who may have been negligent” would be held responsible.
The prime minister also urged political actors to avoid exploiting the tragedy, calling on the opposition to refrain from “attempts to exploit the terrible tragedy in Tripoli for selfish political gain.”
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over aging infrastructure, poor building conditions, and the impact of extreme weather in vulnerable urban areas of Lebanon.
