From the place of departure of the explosion that ravaged Beirut on Tuesday afternoon, only one crater remains. You can see a gaping hole and dirt everywhere. As Europe 1 was able to see on the spot, the rescue services are advancing methodically but almost blindly, in the middle of the debris, to find any survivors. About sixty people are still missing, while the death toll now stands at more than 150 dead and 5,000 injured.
Desolation scene
The buildings of the port were completely gutted by the explosion. Sheds and offices for the employees who stood up until then, there is nothing left but piles of rubble and scrap metal. The boats are all overturned on their side.
Backhoes and rescuers steal dust everywhere. A team of a hundred people are still searching for survivors with dogs and cameras. This mission is currently unsuccessful. "For the moment we have not found any living victims, there is only one area left to do, around the silos. There were office buildings around", as the coordinator of the Nations explains. united.
"Rescuers are on site"
The chances of finding people alive are slim but not inexistent. "There is a possibility, and it is a very small possibility, that with the explosion there are pockets of air, with living people", wants to believe the coordinator of the UNO. But so far, no sign of life has been found. "In any case, the rescuers are there and working on this building."
But the aid services face two difficulties: on the one hand, the density of constructions on the one hand and, on the other hand, the difficulties in obtaining data from the Lebanese government on the number of missing people. While research in the port area continues, a second phase of their operation is already underway, to help local teams inspect buildings around the port.