Witnesses have recalled the terrifying moment a five-story residential building spontaneously collapsed in the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Sunday, killing at least 15 people. The collapse occurred on Sunday afternoon in in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh district. According to local authorities, the building, an aging residential structure, crumbled within seconds. The mayor of Tripoli, Abdel Hamid Karimeh said the city is facing a growing building safety crisis, warning that thousands of structures are at risk due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance.
A witness who was near the scene said the collapse happened suddenly, leaving no time for people to react.
"I was here, sitting outside my shop. It was around 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. when it happened. At that time, as far as I can remember, we were the only ones on the street. Our neighbor's daughter was here. She is about 12 or 13 years old. She ran, jumped toward me, and said, 'The building is collapsing.' I looked at the building. In a matter of seconds, it crumbled completely. In the blink of an eye, it collapsed completely - no wall fell first, no warning at all," he said.
Another resident said people from the nearby neighborhoods joined rescue efforts, working together to clear rubble and search for survivors.
"When disaster struck, the Al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods joined forces to clear the rubble and save lives, and to recover bodies from under the debris. I have two children who were on the street at the time of the tragedy. I gave it my all until I found them," the resident said.
Witnesses recount sudden collapse of residential building in Lebanon
Witnesses recount sudden collapse of residential building in Lebanon
Farmers in India, a major agricultural producer and fertilizer importer, are raising concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the planting season, as the escalating Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz put global supplies at risk.
The Middle East serves as both a vital energy hub and a major global fertilizer supplier, yet the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has heightened risks of disruption to international supplies.
Chand Singh Yadav, a farmer in Haryana, a northern Indian state, said poor crop yields would be disastrous for the country and called on the government to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent a food crisis. "Without fertilizers, our crops will not grow well, and this would be disastrous for the entire country. If farmers cannot grow crops, people will not be able to buy food in the market. We urge the government to improve the supply system for fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent the country and society as a whole from sliding into a food crisis," he said.
The Indian government is stepping up subsidies for farmers and optimizing fertilizer distribution and allocation to stabilize the supply. Prices have remained broadly stable, but demand is expected to surge ahead of the planting season, potentially exacerbating supply pressures.
"The current situation is worrying for us farmers. Spring sowing has not yet started, and the rainy season has not arrived. Fertilizer prices are temporarily stable, but in two months, demand for agricultural fertilizers will become pressing. Without fertilizers, it will be difficult to properly cultivate various types of crops. Urea and diammonium phosphate are especially critical. Crops can only grow normally when these fertilizers are applied. As these fertilizers are largely imported, if the conflict persists, supplies cannot be guaranteed," said Santosh Mishra, a farmer in India's eastern state of Odisha.
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
