Commotion in al-Basta a-Tahta over evacuation of building

Life returned to normal in al-Basta al-Tahta, on Ouzai Street despite the commotion over the very visual cracks in the external walls of an old building. The confusion of the residents of the 14-story adjacent building worsened following rumors that the building might collapse given that a construction site is nearby. The ISF asked residents to evacuate their apartments in order to ensure the safety of the building.

It appeared that the concerned building and the construction site are both owned by the same person, Mohammad al-Khayat, who is also the contractor. Al-Khayat told LBCI that he is constantly reinforcing the walls surrounding the construction site, stressing that he is keen on securing the life of the workers and that of the residents of the nearby building.

While the construction site’s engineer Mohammad Shkhatir ruled out the possibility that the building might collapse, al-Khayat wondered about the reason behind rumors about the building’s collapse.

This neighborhood used to be considered a traditional neighborhood and part of Lebanon’s heritage, however due to the fact that the area is not labeled as such, the neighborhood is slowly losing its specificity and distinguished features.