At least 14 dead after apartment building collapse in Lebanon

At least 14 people were killed and several others injured when a residential building collapsed in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, the Lebanese authorities said on Monday.

The tragedy occurred on Sunday in Tripoli's Bab el-Tebbaneh district.

Civil Defense Director General Imad Khreish said search and rescue operations had come to an end after recovering the bodies of the 14 victims.

The injured were pulled out from the rubble as emergency teams were searching for survivors.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health issued a statement on Monday, saying that it would fully cover the medical expenses for those injured in the building collapse.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has reaffirmed that the government is to provide shelters for evacuated residents and secure funding to immediately reinforce at-risk structures.

Mayor of Tripoli Abdel Hamid Karimeh said that there are 105 buildings in the city at risk of collapse, and the Lebanese government has promised to provide funds for the restoration and reinforcement of these buildings.

At least 14 dead after apartment building collapse in Lebanon

At least 14 dead after apartment building collapse in Lebanon

China on Tuesday urged the Philippines to stop unscrupulous political manipulation and self-directed farces at sea.

Jiang Bin, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, reaffirmed China's positions on Huangyan Dao in response to the Philippine Coast Guard's deployment of vessels and aircraft near the Chinese island.

"Huangyan Dao is part of China's territory and has never been within the territory of the Philippines. Certain Philippine departments tricked and instigated innocent fishermen into committing provocative acts, used them as a tool to infringe upon China's legitimate rights, and even deliberately create friction to scapegoat and smear China. Such behaviors have fully demonstrated their disregard for the fishermen's livelihoods, well-being, or even their safety. We urge the Philippine side to stop its unscrupulous political manipulation and self-directed farce at sea. China will continue to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters in accordance with law, and resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," he stressed.

China urges Philippines to stop political manipulation at sea