In 2023, seismic activity raised concerns about building collapses in Lebanon, initially overlooked until a series of incidents occurred across different regions. These events are part of a broader context where Lebanon faces significant risks due to the deterioration of its urban environment, with over 18,000 buildings at risk of collapse. The degraded built environment in Lebanon reflects several contributing factors highlighted earlier. This article aims to clarify and analyse the direct causes of recent collapses, document deficiencies in the legal framework, and link them to observed incidents, including issues such as deficiencies in the public safety decree, buildings constructed without regulatory frameworks, ambiguity in maintenance and renovation responsibilities, the fragility of buildings in informal areas due to neglect, construction in flood-prone and torrential areas, and problems with building laws and zoning. Finally, the text underscores the urgent need to address legal frameworks related to construction and public safety, emphasising the necessity for broader public discussion and community action.
The Primary Causes Behind the Increasing number of Collapsed Buildings in Lebanon
11/07/2024
From Dossier Reports
Housing
Infrastructure
Land Management and Planning
Reconstruction and Recovery
Lebanon
affected areas building collapse building law Circulars construction permit heritage Informality land-use master plan national physical master plan of the lebanese territories rehabilitation renovation rent law
Public Safety Decree: No Guarantee for People’s Safety, and No End to the Deterioration of the Urban Environment
Decree No. 14293 relating to “Requirements for General Safety in Buildings, Facilities and Elevator Equipment, and Fire and Earthquake Prevention”.
It was amended by Decree No. 7964, which is currently in force and issued on April 7, 2012.