Latest Earthquake Strikes Fear in Lebanon: All Old Buildings at Risk of Collapsehttps://english.aawsat.com/features/5050509-latest-earthquake-strikes-fear-lebanon-all-old-buildings-risk-collapse
Latest Earthquake Strikes Fear in Lebanon: All Old Buildings at Risk of Collapse
A sign warns against approaching a building at risk of collapse in Lebanon. (file photo)
A recent strong earthquake that hit Syria and was felt in Lebanon has alarmed the Lebanese people, bringing back memories of the devastating quake that struck Syria and Türkiye on February 6, 2023.
People are now worried about the stability of many older buildings in Beirut and other major cities.
The Lebanese Real Estate Authority warned that at least 16,000 buildings are at risk of collapsing, excluding those damaged by the 2020 Beirut port explosion. The Authority also highlighted damage to buildings in Tripoli from the 2023 quake and in the South due to the war with Israel.
The Authority noted that the most vulnerable buildings are in Beirut, northern Lebanon, and Tripoli. These buildings are at risk due to outdated construction practices, lack of maintenance, and damage from past conflicts. Lebanon’s location on an active fault line adds to the risk.
The Authority also expressed concern about internal displacement, with people moving from unsafe areas to more crowded neighborhoods, where many buildings are in poor condition.
To address these risks, the Authority called for a comprehensive survey by municipalities to assess and prioritize building repairs.
It criticized the current lack of effective regulation and oversight and urged citizens to inspect their buildings for cracks and avoid staying under damaged roofs. Professional assessments from engineers are recommended for safety.
Beirut’s municipal authorities have started evaluating the safety of older buildings in wake of the earthquake.
Dr. Bilal Hamad, a structural engineering professor, warned that most buildings built before 2000 could collapse in a major quake of magnitude 6.0 or higher.
He explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that older buildings are designed to handle vertical loads but struggle with the side forces of an earthquake.
He stressed the need for legislative action to allow renovations of heritage buildings by enabling property owners to sell parts of their property to fund repairs and make the buildings more resilient.
What Impact Will Egyptian-Turkish Rapprochement Have on Resolving Regional Crises?https://english.aawsat.com/features/5058203-what-impact-will-egyptian-turkish-rapprochement-have-resolving-regional-crises
What Impact Will Egyptian-Turkish Rapprochement Have on Resolving Regional Crises?
Sisi and Erdogan stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Türkiye and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised questions about the potential impact of Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement on resolving regional crises, especially after discussions by the joint Strategic Cooperation Council focused on the situation in six Arab nations.
Experts suggest that the alignment between Cairo and Ankara on certain regional crises could lead to a significant shift toward resolving these issues. They emphasized that the Egyptian-Turkish approach could break through in several regional files.
Sisi visited Ankara on Wednesday, following an invitation from Erdogan during his trip to Cairo in February. The Egyptian president described the visit as reflecting a shared will to start a new phase of friendship and cooperation between his country and Türkiye given their pivotal roles in their regional and international surroundings.
The discussions between Sisi and Erdogan highlighted a convergence in views on regional issues, especially the situation in Gaza and Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights.
Additionally, the Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, chaired by the two presidents, addressed cooperation between their countries on six files and Arab issues, including the situation in Gaza, the war in Sudan, tensions in Somalia, and the conditions in Libya, Syria, and Iraq, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.
Taha Ouda, a researcher in international relations in Ankara, pointed to the significance of the shared positions between Egypt and Türkiye on Gaza, Sudan, and Libya. He predicted that the coming period would witness major shifts in the foreign policies of both countries over regional crises. He also noted that the exchange of visits between Sisi and Erdogan signifies a new era of political and economic cooperation between their countries.
Dr. Tarek Fahmy, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Egyptian-Turkish approach will likely lead to breakthroughs in several regional files.
He explained that both countries are driven to achieve mutual interests and coordinate efforts to serve their respective priorities. He viewed the normalization of relations between Cairo and Ankara as a crucial step in light of regional developments.
Egyptian and Turkish officials are seen at the Strategic Cooperation Council meeting. (Egyptian Presidency)
During a joint press conference with Erdogan, Sisi emphasized the unified stance of Egypt and Türkiye in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and rejecting Israel’s current escalation in the West Bank.
They also called for a pathway that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state according to the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant international resolutions.
Fahmy further pointed out that elevating relations between Cairo and Ankara to a revived strategic dialogue will lead to a qualitative shift in addressing regional crises, including cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the situation in Libya and the Horn of Africa.
He emphasized the coordination mechanism between the two countries, with Egypt playing a mediating role in the Syrian conflict, where Türkiye is involved, in exchange for Türkiye’s mediation in the Nile Basin issue and efforts to resolve tensions in the Red Sea.
The two presidents agreed on consultations to achieve security and political stability in Libya, stressing the importance of ending the prolonged crisis by holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, removing illegal foreign forces and mercenaries, and dismantling armed militias, allowing Libya to overcome its divisions and restore security and stability, said the Strategic Cooperation Council declaration.
The talks also addressed the crisis in Sudan and Egypt’s efforts, in cooperation with various parties, to secure a ceasefire and promote a political solution. Regarding the Horn of Africa, Sisi and Erdogan agreed on the need to preserve Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity against challenges.
Former Assistant Egyptian Foreign Minister Ambassador Gamal Bayoumi noted that economic and investment cooperation takes priority over coordination on regional issues. He stressed that energy and gas cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean would be among the first areas of collaboration between Egypt and Türkiye.
