Five days after the double explosion that struck Beirut and left at least 158 ​​dead, rescuers are still looking for survivors in the rubble, especially at the epicenter of the explosion. But the terrain and conditions are particularly difficult. The chances of finding survivors are dwindling. Reportage.

REPORTAGE

The shock of the double explosion that ravaged the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, leaving at least 158 ​​dead and 6,000 injured, is gradually giving way to anger. On Saturday, monster demonstrations took place in the streets of the capital, to denounce corruption in the Lebanese system. Meanwhile, rescuers, including several French, are still looking for survivors in the rubble, especially at the epicenter of the explosion, a crater 43 meters deep.

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Instead of the port, there is now a beach, a gaping hole filled with the turquoise sea, and around it, everything is a heap of junk. Boats are overturned, silos gutted and excavators clear the land. Around a hundred rescuers are still looking for survivors, using sniffer dogs and cameras.

Particularly difficult terrain

Colonel Tissier is in charge of the 55 French dispatched to Beirut. As of Sunday morning, they had not found any living victims. Because the terrain is particularly difficult. "Because of the explosion, there was an effect of blast and projection of many materials. The environment is particularly unstructured. There is so much rubble everywhere, of reinforcing bar that it is difficult to progress In addition to this, of course, there are temperature conditions, wind and dust which complicate the work of the teams, ”said Colonel Tissier.

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Second mission: ensure the stability of buildings in the city center

Another difficulty: the rescuers have no data on the number of missing people who are still to be found. The possibility of finding survivors is now a miracle according to the colonel. His team has already started a second stage of its mission: to ensure the stability of buildings in the city center, to avoid any further landslides.