2,500 Bnei Brak Balconies Flagged as Potentially Dangerous in Massive Safety Crackdown

Authorities in Israel have identified thousands of balconies in Bnei Brak that may pose safety risks, following a sweeping inspection campaign launched over concerns about potential danger to residents and passersby.

The Lands Enforcement and Supervision Authority carried out an extensive survey throughout the city, focusing on balconies attached to residential buildings in one of the country’s most densely populated urban areas.

During the operation, inspectors examined roughly 6,500 balconies across Bnei Brak. In the initial phase of the review, approximately 2,500 balconies located in about 1,250 buildings were flagged as potentially hazardous.

The findings were forwarded to the Bnei Brak Local Planning and Building Committee, which is now tasked with determining whether the structures received the necessary building permits and engineering safety approvals.

Once that review is completed, the Enforcement Authority will determine how to proceed. Possible actions under consideration include enforcement proceedings and even demolition orders for balconies deemed unsafe or illegally constructed.

Officials said the survey was initiated in response to the widespread phenomenon of unauthorized construction in crowded cities, particularly in Bnei Brak, where residents have frequently expanded apartments or added balconies without proper oversight.

Several balcony collapses reported in different cities in recent years intensified concerns and prompted authorities to begin a more systematic investigation into potentially dangerous structures.

According to experts involved in the matter, many balconies were added over the years without engineering supervision or formal safety inspections. Professionals warn that aging buildings, combined with added structural weight that was never included in the original planning, could create a serious risk to human life.

{Matzav.com}