A 6 storey building has collapsed in Beirut, Lebanon leaving 25 dead and many trapped in the rubble. It happened in the Ashrafieh district without warning or any obvious explanation. Prime Minister Najeeb Mikati has taken personal control of the investigation while hospitals in the city have been put on alert to receive the injured. Victims are thought to be Lebanese as well as Egyptian, Sudanese, Jordanian and nationals from the Philippines.
Ashrafieh is located in the eastern part of Beirut by the shoreline. The area is a mix of residential and commercial development with narrow winding streets and large apartment and office buildings. It is a prime location for investment and tourism. Within Ashrafieh is Sassine Square, one of the most prominent political, social and commercial focal points of the Lebanese capital