Tripoli Building Collapse: 14 Lives Lost, Angry Residents Demand Justice

Ah, my people! Na serious matter we dey face for Tripoli, Lebanon. Just yesterday, we hear say two buildings don collapse like pack of cards, and 14 souls don go just like that! Chai! The civil defence talk say dem don finish search-and-rescue ops, and e no sweet at all for our hearts.

This tragedy happen for one of the neighborhoods wey dem dey call Bab al-Tabbaneh. Dem two buildings na dey involved, each dey carry six apartments, so you fit imagine how many people dey stay for there. Na wah! Na only 8 persons sef wey dem rescue from the rubble. These guys dey try their best to find survivors as chai, but e no dey look good.

According to the local officials, residents self join the rescue hustle. Dem no just sit down dey watch, dem rush come help clear debris and try create ways for people wey dey trapped. The internal security and police don block other buildings wey dey near to avoid more casualty in case them follow that one collapse too. Na serious matter wey dey worry everybody.

Lebanon President Joseph Aoun don order all emergency services make dem dey on high alert. The Prime Minister Nawaf Salam talk say dem go provide housing allowance for residents wey need evacuate. Omo, him talk say no make people turn this one to political matter, as e be say them don dey use am for political gain. Na only God fit save us from dat one.

Tripoli Mayor Abdel Hamid Karimeh don declare say di city na disaster zone. E talk say na because of years of neglect wey don dey happen. E get thousands of buildings wey dey fragile, and people dey live inside like say everything dey alright. Naim make Al Jazeera reporter, Zeina Khodr, talk say anger dey for the town. People wey dey live for these risky buildings no get anywhere to run go. How dem go survive?

Justice Minister Adel Nassar don request for immediate investigation into this matter. E mean serious matter, wey dey show say government get hand for am for no provide proper oversight for buildings wey don dey age like fine wine. Dis building collapse no be the first; we don hear plenty stories of aging buildings for Tripoli wey dey burst like balloon.

This kind tragedy dey reflect on the state of buildings wey don overdue maintenance. Many of these structures na from the civil war time when dem dey build anyhow without permits. E don reach time wey government need to take this matter serious. Last month, na another building collapse happen, and the statistics say 105 buildings need urgent attention.

Now, as dem dey rescue people, dem still dey plan to evacuate 114 buildings wey dey at risk. E no go funny as some families go need shelter. The body wey dey handle relief matter don promise housing for dem for one year, but wetin go happen after that? More work dey need to be done!

We go keep our ears dey ground for more updates. Make we dey pray for the ones wey don waka, and let us dey hope say no more lives go lost again because of this negligence. We gatz shine our eyes!