Death toll rises to 14 in Lebanon after Tripoli building collapse: Civil defence

• Lebanon’s Tripoli hit by deadly building collapse, 14 killed and 8 rescued, civil defense says.

The death toll from a residential building collapse in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, has risen to 14, the Lebanese Civil Defense Directorate said Monday, following the completion of rescue operations.

In a statement, the Civil Defense confirmed that rescue teams had saved eight people alive, including a man and a woman pulled from the rubble in the early hours of Monday, after operations that began Sunday afternoon in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood.

Widespread unsafe buildings put Tripoli residents at risk

The collapse adds to a growing pattern of deadly incidents in Tripoli, a city dotted with unsafe and derelict buildings. Many structures were built illegally during Lebanon’s 1975–1990 civil war, with some owners adding unauthorized floors over the decades. Experts have warned that hundreds of buildings in the city remain at imminent risk.

“This tragedy reflects decades of accumulated neglect,” said local activist Jumana al-Shahal. Mayor Abdel Hamid Karimeh called Tripoli a “disaster-stricken city,” noting that thousands of residents live under constant threat due to unsafe structures.

Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis has compounded the problem, leaving many residents unable to afford repairs or alternative housing. Recent reports indicate that unplanned urban expansion and weak regulatory oversight are major contributors to the frequent collapses.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pledged housing support for affected residents and described the incident as a “humanitarian catastrophe” caused by long-standing neglect. Justice Minister Adel Nassar ordered an immediate investigation into the collapse, which is the second deadly building disaster in Tripoli in recent weeks.

Civil defense teams continue to monitor other vulnerable structures across the city, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive safety assessments and stricter enforcement of building regulations.