Sri Lankan woman under collapsed building in Lebanon

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beirut confirmed that a Sri Lankan woman is among the persons trapped under the rubble of a collapsed residential building in Mansourieh, Lebanon.

Efforts are in progress to save those trapped under the rubble of the five-story building that collapsed mid-afternoon on Monday (October 16), says the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.

In addition, Lebanese media reported that emergency measures have been taken to combat by the Civil Defense, Red Cross, and Army Personnels to rescue the trapped.

Two bodies have been extracted last night (16), Lebanese media further mentioned.

It has been noted that the building’s foundations have suddenly deteriorated citing the appearance of large cracks in two concrete posts in the parking space which had been repaired three months ago.

Director General of Lebanese Civil Defense Brigadier General Raymond Khattar has said that the collapse has occurred on the grounds of recent flooding and column failure.

General Khattar further pointed out that they are in regular contact with the Minister of Interior to increase rescue operations.

In the meantime, Lebanese MP Razi al-Hajj had formerly disclosed that he has received a list with names of six citizens and a foreign domestic worker who are still under the rubble in line with his sources.   

That said, Sri Lankans who are presently employed in Southern Lebanon have been urged to register themselves with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beirut as significant uncertainties regarding an extensive internal conflict surrounded by the tensions ratcheting up between Israel and Lebanon in the peripheral of the Israel-Palestine war.

The contacts and e-mail address that have been put up in view of this, are as follows: 

• 70 386754 - Mr. Sanath Balasuriya: The First Secretary
• 71 960810 - Mr. Priyantha Dassanayake
• E-mail: slemb.beirut@mfa.gov.lk