ALBAWABA - A Lebanese paramedic official stated that a building collapsed in a southern suburb of Beirut late Monday, killing four people and injuring three others as search operations continued for more people under the rubble.
Following days of heavy rainfall in the suburb of Choueifat, a building collapsed killing at least four people, while search continues for other survivors. Local officials said the building was not considered safe and the municipality had ordered the four-story building evacuated two years ago out of concerns its foundations were weak. Despite the order, the owner of the building rented apartments to Syrian families.
According to Raja Zreik of the Islamic Health Society, which was involved in rescue operations in the neighborhood, the majority of the individuals residing in the building are Syrian residents. He said four persons had been killed.
The state-run National News Agency also reported the deaths of four people: two ladies, a guy, and a kid. According to Zreik, two ladies and a kid were rescued from under the rubble and sent to the hospital.
A member of the Lebanese Red Cross informed local Al-Jadeed TV that 17 people are still thought to be trapped under the rubble.
A building collapsed in the same neighborhood earlier this month, but no one was injured because occupants were evacuated due to suspicions that it was unsafe.
Lebanon now accommodates around 805,000 United Nations-registered Syrian refugees, although officials think that the true number is far higher, ranging between 1.5 and 2 million.
