Acting Director General of Civil Defense Brigadier General Imad Khreich supervised ongoing rescue operations at the site of the collapsed building in the Qobbeh area.

Speaking to journalists at the scene, Khreich said rescue teams are working manually, with four Civil Defense units and a Red Cross team operating jointly. “We will continue these efforts until we reach Elissar,” he said.

He stressed that heavy machinery is deliberately not being used in order to maximize the chances of her survival. “All work is being carried out by hand, and we will maintain this approach until the very last moment,” he added.

Khreich explained that the operation is being conducted under extremely difficult conditions due to reinforced concrete and heavy debris, with teams working between floors. He said additional teams would join the effort later, and that rescuers are attempting to access the presumed location of Elissar from three different directions, while also searching other possible areas.

He added that after speaking with Elissar’s mother, both before and after her rescue, she indicated that her daughter had not moved far from her and was attempting to exit the apartment through the front door when the building collapsed.