Lebanon: two years after the explosion, the silos of the port of Beirut threaten to collapse
Two years after the explosion, the silos of the port of Beirut threaten to collapse.
AP - Hussein Malla
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned on Thursday July 28 of the collapse of the silos in the port of Beirut, two years after the devastating explosion that shook this imposing construction.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifeh
The authorities have communicated to the inhabitants of the capital preventive instructions in case the accident occurs.
The explosion of several hundred tons of ammonium nitrate
stored without precautionary measures in the port had, on August 4, 2020, killed 220 people, injured 6,500 and destroyed part of the Lebanese capital.
The Lebanese army and the Directorate of Disaster Management were put on high alert and the Red Cross and other NGOs began distributing masks to residents of neighborhoods near the port of Beirut.
Authorities estimate that the area surrounding the port within 500 meters will likely be covered by a huge cloud of dust containing fungus and other harmful particles if the silos collapse.
Evacuation plans
Regions within 1,500 meters, which include downtown Beirut, will be affected by a 24-hour amount of dust.
Residents were asked to close their windows and wear masks.
Evacuation plans for the most exposed neighborhoods are being considered.
The warnings
from the head of government Najib Mikati
and the ministries concerned come two weeks after a fire in the most damaged part of the silos, undoubtedly caused by the fermentation of rotten grain stocks and high temperatures.
As a security measure, the Prime Minister asked the authorities to prohibit port employees or members of the Civil Defense and firefighters from approaching the imposing devastated structure.
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Lebanon
Najib Mikati