Apartment Building Collapse in Tripoli Kills 15, Sparks Public Outrage

An Associated Press report on February 10 detailed the building collapse that occurred on Sunday afternoon in Tripoli, Lebanon's capital. The incident took place in the impoverished Bab Tabbaneh neighborhood, where the six-story apartment building completely fell apart. Civil defense units reported at least 15 fatalities and 8 injured. One person was wounded by gunfire after local residents gathered to protest and express frustration with authorities' response, firing shots into the air. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to consistently poor construction standards, but this incident has generated significant public anger because of the high death toll. Authorities are urgently evacuating surrounding buildings due to potential structural risks, and police have pledged to investigate the cause and hold responsible parties accountable.