Beirut still burns. A violent fire breaks out in the rubble of the port

BEIRUT – A huge fire broke out in the port of Beirut just over a month after the explosion that devastated the city, sparking panic among the still traumatized residents. The flames broke out near the area destroyed on 4 August, next to the Duty Free of the seaport. The causes are still to be ascertained. From local media information, it appears that the fire broke out inside a shed where tires were stored.

???? Beirut pic.twitter.com/xQuMavF9qC

— Middle East Strategic Perspectives (@mestrate) September 10, 2020

A high column of black smoke rose over the city, obscuring the sky. Firefighters, local media reported, are trying to put out the flames. They rushed to the scene with their means of transport on which photos of colleagues who died a month ago were attached.

Port of #Beirut now. Firefighters are struggling to control the fire. Look at the truck, it has photos of 10 of their colleagues who passed away a month ago at that same location. pic.twitter.com/4pOyaQU3DH

– Imad Bazzi (@TrellaLB) September 10, 2020

On the afternoon of August 4, around 6pm local time, a double explosion destroyed half the city. The affected area, with entire buildings gutted and debris everywhere, is that of the port. The main explosion was linked to 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been confiscated in 2014 by the Lebanese government from the abandoned ship M / N Rhosus and left in the port without security measures until the day of the disaster. Nearly 200 people died and 6,500 were injured. The citizens of the capital, still traumatized, reacted to this second tragedy, entering into panic. Images and videos of the fire have been posted on social media, almost all accompanied by the same incredulous and shocked comment: “Again? No”.

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“There is no risk of explosions,” said the port director, commenting on the news of the fire. Bassem Which confirmed that the flames spread inside a depot containing barrels of industrial oil and that the fire then spread to the nearby tire depot. He added that the firefighting operations are concentrated in the area of ​​the bus and taxi terminal on Charles Helou Avenue, bordering the port.

The Lebanese activist Imad Bazzi, and like him other social users, he wrote on Twitter that the air has become unbreathable. And again, it’s raining ash.

Video captured reportedly after the moment the fire started. Workmen can be seen running back from the area of the fire (rightly so). #Beirut, #Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/Pc523EQOI5

– Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) September 10, 2020

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