Historic Ibb Building Collapses Amid Accusations of Houthi Negligence

A significant historical structure, locally known as the "Government Building" (Directorate Administration), collapsed in the city of Yareem, Ibb Governorate, which is currently under Houthi control, on Friday morning, March 6th, resulting in extensive material damage and miraculous escapes by several citizens.

Local residents reported that the collapse occurred precisely at 10:00 AM, leading to the destruction of several adjacent shops and commercial establishments surrounding the ancient edifice. Eyewitnesses confirmed that a shop owner, along with a woman and child who were passing by at the moment of the catastrophe, narrowly survived what could have escalated into a major humanitarian tragedy.

The collapsed structure is considered one of the region's most prominent historical landmarks, dating back approximately five centuries to the Ottoman era. The building had previously suffered a partial collapse in 2024, rendering its complete failure predictable due to the sustained lack of necessary maintenance and restoration efforts.

Activists in the directorate asserted that this structural failure is a direct consequence of the deliberate neglect by the Houthi militia and its affiliated local authorities. They pointed to a series of appeals and warnings issued by residents through social media and formal reports submitted to the General Authority for Antiquities, all of which were reportedly ignored.

The activists explicitly accused the authorities of intentional dereliction of duty in safeguarding the city's historical heritage, despite repeated warnings regarding the perilous condition of the building and the threat it posed to the lives of residents and neighboring properties.