The head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, wrote a blog post on his account on the “X” platform, commenting on the incident of the collapse of a new building in Tripoli, describing the result as deaths, injuries, and victims of negligence.
Bassil stated, “What is happening is a silent crime called an absent state and authorities that do not act until after the tragedy,” stressing that “protecting people begins with inspecting buildings and holding those responsible accountable, not with statements of condolence.”
Bassil’s comment comes in light of the increasing incidents of building collapses in Tripoli, the most recent of which was the collapse of a building today in the Bab al-Tabbaneh area after a similar incident that occurred previously in the al-Qubba area. These collapses left victims and injuries, and led to a widespread state of alert by the presidency, the government, and the Ministries of Interior and Health, in addition to the intervention of civil defense, Red Cross, and ambulance teams.
It is noteworthy that previous reports and warnings had indicated the presence of a large number of buildings at risk of collapse in various areas of Tripoli, especially in the old and densely populated neighborhoods, as a result of deteriorating construction conditions and the lack of radical solutions. With the recurrence of these incidents, the issue of inspecting buildings, holding officials accountable, and ensuring the safety of residents has returned to the forefront of public and political debate.
