(Beirut) Part of the damaged grain silos in the port of Beirut collapsed following a fire on Sunday, a few days before the second anniversary of the devastating explosion in this port.
Posted at 10:54 a.m.
A cloud of dust covered the harbor after two towers collapsed, AFP journalists noted.
More than two weeks ago, a fire broke out in the most damaged part of the silos, caused according to the authorities and experts by the fermentation of the remaining grain stocks, combined with high temperatures.
The fire rekindled the trauma of relatives of victims of the August 4, 2020 explosion, left more than 200 dead and 6,500 injured and devastated entire neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital.
PHOTO MOHAMED AZAKIR, REUTERS
Dust rises as part of Beirut’s grain silos, damaged in the August 2020 port explosion, collapse in Beirut, Lebanon July 31, 2022.
The August 4 explosion was triggered in a warehouse housing hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate stored carelessly. Hit hard by the blast of the explosion, the grain silos of the port had partially collapsed.
The flames and smoke rising since the beginning of the month from the silos were still visible.
After the fire, Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned this week that part of the silos were in danger of collapsing and called on the army and the Directorate of Disaster Management to be “on high alert”.
Parts of the silos still contain some 3,000 tons of wheat and other grains that could not be removed due to the danger of collapse, authorities said.
The Ministries of Environment and Health have issued recommendations for the public in the event of silo collapses, including the need to evacuate the area, wear masks and close housing windows.
In April, Lebanon ordered the demolition of the silos, but the decision was suspended due to opposition from relatives of the victims of the tragedy who want to make it a place of memory.
The investigation into the causes of the tragedy of August 4, 2020 has been suspended for months due to political obstruction. Pointed out for criminal negligence, the authorities are accused by the families of the victims and NGOs of torpedoing her to avoid charges.