Deadly tower collapse has locals in Lebanon’s Tripoli asking: Are we next? | Infrastructure
Tripoli, Lebanon — Hossam Hazrouni, a 65-year-old resident of a dilapidated building, gestures toward a crumbling concrete staircase, revealing the exposed foundation beneath. “Look inside,” he states. “The interior pillars are all broken. It’s covered in water. Everything inside is wet.”
Nearby, a heap of shattered concrete and bent metal marks the site of a building that collapsed on February 8, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 individuals. In Tripoli, the frequency of such building collapses is alarming; this incident marks the fourth such event this winter alone. Hundreds more structures face similar fates due to a combination of aging infrastructure, unregulated construction, Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis, the recent earthquake that damaged local foundations, and an unusually wet rainy season.
Residents express their fears about the stability of their homes. Hazrouni asks, “They told us to evacuate, but where are we supposed to go?”
Historically a bustling hub for trade and shipping in the 1950s, Tripoli has since devolved into one of the poorest cities along the Mediterranean coast. The disparity within the city is stark; while several billionaires, including former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, reside in Tripoli, approximately 45% of the population lives in poverty, as reported by the World Bank in 2024.
The city’s middle- and upper-class residents have largely moved to more prosperous areas, leaving the impoverished behind in deteriorating neighborhoods. Many residents are aware of the precarious condition of their homes but lack the financial means for repairs.
“The first problem is that the structures are old,” says Fayssal al-Baccar, an engineer and founder of the Tripoli Emergency Fund. Speaking from a southern Tripoli restaurant, he notes, “The lifespan of concrete is between 50 to 80 years,” and many buildings in the area are nearing that limit.
Al-Baccar explains how prolonged exposure and water damage weaken buildings. “Over time, the pH level of the concrete becomes more acidic, corroding the steel within,” he illustrates while sketching a building’s foundation. “Eventually, it leads to collapse.”
The recent earthquake, which struck northern Syria and southern Turkey, severely impacted the structural integrity of Tripoli’s older buildings. Many have been weakened by unregulated additions over the years. Additionally, this year’s heavy rainfall has further compromised the already vulnerable concrete structures.
Al-Baccar has gathered a team of local experts to address these pressing issues. Among them is Sarah al-Charif, spokesperson for the Tripoli Emergency Fund and vice president of Tripoli’s Port Authority. “Many buildings are old and dilapidated, some of which are on the verge of collapse,” she states from her office in Bab al-Tabbaneh, which is close to the recent site of the collapse.
Al-Charif attributes the deteriorating conditions to decades of neglect from the government. Although she doesn’t hold the current administration responsible, she emphasizes that previous leaders failed to act on these longstanding problems.
“There’s responsibility at every level: landlords, tenants, and builders all have a part to play,” she notes, hinting at the use of substandard materials in construction.
Nearby, 70-year-old Wissam Kafrouni points to a cracked building just doors down from the collapse site. His nephew lives in the top-floor apartment, but the landlord insists that repairs are the tenant’s responsibility.
Residents of the area report that various officials, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have visited after the building’s collapse. However, promises to address the infrastructure concerns remain largely unfulfilled.
Deputy Mayor Khaled Kabbara, part of the newly elected municipal government, acknowledges the longstanding nature of the problem. “The issue of cracked buildings is a very old issue in Tripoli,” he states, adding that this administration is committed to finding solutions.
Engineers are currently inspecting buildings across the city to assess whether they can be repaired or need to be evacuated. So far, evacuation warnings have been issued for 114 buildings, a number that may increase significantly.
Evacuated families will receive a one-year shelter allowance for temporary housing. Religious institutions have also stepped in to assist displaced residents, with additional support pledged from Turkey, which has promised to provide approximately 100 prefabricated homes.
A call center has been established for residents to report suspected structural issues. Thus far, it has logged complaints about around 650 buildings. Kabbara acknowledges that there were prior reports about the collapsed building, but the lack of urgent requests precluded an inspection before the disaster.
Locals in Bab al-Tabbaneh voice their frustration as officials have visited the site without providing substantial aid. Samir Rajab, 56, notes that promises to improve the infrastructure have been made for years, going back to the administration of former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
On the site of the recent collapse, Mustapha al-Abed, 54, struggles to repair a washing machine in his small workshop. Many in the area have resorted to handwashing due to the economic constraints.
He glances at the collapsed structure, reflecting on the broader issue. “The problem isn’t just here anymore; these people are already dead,” he says, gesturing toward a nearby neighborhood bustling with Ramadan shoppers. “The problem lies in all the other buildings.”
