Irbid, July 8 (Petra) – A four-story residential building in Irbid collapsed early Tuesday, hours after it was evacuated by authorities due to structural concerns, officials said. No injuries were reported.

The building, located near Darawsha traffic light in Irbid city, had been recommended for demolition by the National Building Council due to its hazardous structural condition, Irbid Governor Radwan al-Atoum told Petra on Tuesday.

Authorities had fully evacuated the building on Monday evening as a precautionary measure following the observation of severe cracks in its structure. The rapid evacuation by the Civil Defense Directorate and Irbid Police, who also cleared an adjacent house, prevented any casualties when the building collapsed, al-Atoum said.

The decision to evacuate was based on external observations and documented photographs showing dangerous signs of deterioration, he added. The Public Safety Committee's decision was supported by preliminary reports indicating an actual threat of collapse.

Al-Atoum noted that the Minister of Public Works and Housing had promptly instructed the National Building Council to inspect the building. A specialized committee from Amman, accompanied by the head of the Engineers Association branch in Irbid, Mahmoud Al Rababa'a, and other experts, assessed the site.

Authorities had cordoned off the area and prevented anyone, including residents, from approaching the building for safety reasons. The main street past the Darawsha traffic light, within the vicinity of Al-Masa roundabout, was closed off, and security agencies blocked roads leading to the roundabout from the north and east as a precautionary measure.

//Petra// AA


08/07/2025 10:43:13