A tragic incident unfolded in a southern suburb of Beirut late Monday when a building collapsed, resulting in the loss of four lives and leaving three others injured. The collapse occurred in the suburb of Choueifat following a period of heavy rainfall.
Local authorities revealed that the four-story building had been deemed unsafe, with the municipality issuing an evacuation order two years ago due to concerns over its weak foundation. Despite this directive, the building's owner continued to rent out apartments to Syrian families, most of whom were residing in the structure at the time of the collapse.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams working diligently to locate any individuals who may still be trapped beneath the rubble. According to reports, a total of four individuals, including two women, a man, and a child, lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Efforts to extract survivors from the debris have already borne fruit, with two women and a boy successfully rescued and transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. However, the situation remains critical, as an estimated 17 individuals are believed to be still trapped under the collapsed building.
Lebanon, a country that hosts a significant number of Syrian refugees, has been grappling with the challenges posed by the influx of displaced individuals. While official figures indicate that around 805,000 Syrian refugees are registered with the United Nations in Lebanon, the actual number is believed to be much higher, ranging between 1.5 million and 2 million.
