Lebanon - Large explosion rocks port area in Beirut, Aug 2020

[CoverMeCagney]

I love these special reports by the BBC. Going to be interesting to see who eventually takes the blame for this tragedy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast

 

[dotr]

ribm.
Lebanon’s Youth Organize Missing Person’s Page, Explosion Relief Efforts
“Locate Victims Beirut”
''Rabat – Lebanon’s youth are making up for the shortcomings of their country’s government by facilitating networks of support and aid after a devastating explosion rocked Beirut on August 4.

“The new generation is taking things into their own hands. We are the ones working for this because we believe in the future of Lebanon,” fifteen-year-old E S, a high school student in Beirut, told Morocco World News.''

''The website and social media page called, “Locate Victims Beirut” is host to dozens of images and contact information submitted by the loved ones of missing persons.

With the help of 9 other volunteers, the team assembled lists of missing, found, and hospitalized victims onto the website. This allowed them to centralize information and make it easier for people to locate their loved ones.

“I was seeing so many victims being reported on so many different pages and I thought, even if I recognized these individuals, there is no way I would remember who reported them in the first place because the info was all over the place. I decided to create a single platform,” said Issa.

Days after creating the Instagram page, Issa and Sleiman joined initiatives and linked the website with the Instagram account. ''

 

[dotr]

• 
  World donors demand change before money to rebuild Beirut
• 
  Words are written by Lebanese citizens in front of the scene of Tuesday's explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

''BEIRUT -- The money to rebuild Lebanon's shattered capital will come only with the same change demanded by mourning protesters in Beirut, said world leaders and international organizations on Sunday after a global aid teleconference.

Over 30 conference participants offered emergency humanitarian aid and pledged help for a "credible and independent" investigation into last week's Beirut explosion, another key demand of the Lebanese crowds who took to the streets Saturday and Sunday.

In Beirut, a Lebanese Cabinet minister resigned amid signals that the embattled government may be unraveling in the aftermath of the devastating blast that ripped through the capital on Aug. 4 and raised public anger to new levels.''

 

[dotr]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/lebanon-explosion-aftermath-monday-1.5680392
''Lebanese government resigns as explosion fallout continues

''Resignations come as death toll from Aug. 4 blast rises to 163''

Some Lebanese doubt change is possible in a country where sectarian politicians have dominated since the 1975-90 conflict.

"It won't work, it's just the same people. It's a Mafia," said Antoinette Baaklini, an employee of an electricity company that was demolished in the blast.

Workers picked up fallen masonry near the building where wall graffiti mocked Lebanon's chronic electricity crisis: "Everyone else in the world has electricity while we have a donkey."

 

[whitelilac]

Look at this footage of the explosion, high resolution and also shown in slow motion. It's shocking. You can see building facades disintegrate.

https://nypost.com/2020/08/09/new-footage-shows-beirut-explosion-up-close-and-in-slow-motion/

 

[Thuwal]

What did Israel says about this "large explosion"?

 

[Knitty]

What did Israel says about this "large explosion"?

?

 

[dotr]

What did Israel says about this "large explosion"?

Maybe they thought the explosive material was intended for them?
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/08/10/was-the-beirut-explosion-intended-for-israel/
''When a massive stockpile of weapons-grade ammonium nitrate exploded in the Beirut port on Aug. 4, it was without a doubt a tragedy of horrific proportions. At least 150 innocent civilians were killed and thousands more wounded. The damage to the city of Beirut, and to Lebanon's main seaport, will take years to repair.

Yet for Israel, there is one major consolation: The stockpile of ammonium nitrate and the collateral damage it caused may well have been earmarked for Israel.''

And perhaps, vice versa..
The Beirut explosion has serious implications for Israel and Hezbollah

 

[Thuwal]

?

Lebanon and Israel hate each other. They're pretty much at war since 1948.
Maybe Israel gave a (not so) nice "gift" to Lebanon...

 

[dixiegirl1035]

A fire has broken out just now at the site... livestream



Helicopter dumping water

@10:21 eastern, live stream ended with fox, so adding Sun livestream

Sun Livestream

 

[dotr]

rbbm.
Huge fire breaks out at Beirut port a month after explosion
''The Lebanese army said the fire started at a warehouse where oil and tires are placed in the duty free zone, adding that efforts to battle the fire were ongoing.

Panicked residents - still struggling to get over last month's catastrophic explosion - cracked open windows and called and texted each other to warn them of the new danger. Local TV stations said companies that have offices near the port asked their employees to leave the area.

A video circulating on social media showed port workers running away in fear as soon as the fire broke out, a chilling reminder of last month's blast that killed dozens of port employees and 10 firefighters. Lebanese troops closed the major road that passes near the port rerouting traffic to other areas.''

''Port director Bassem al-Qaisi told Voice of Lebanon radio the fire started in a warehouse where barrels of cooking oil were placed and later spread nearby to where tires were piled.''

''It was the second fire at the port this week. On Tuesday, a small fire erupted, also creating some panic, that was quickly extinguished.''

 

[dotr]

Sept 15 2020
Beirut on fire again: Third blaze after devastating port blast | Daily Mail Online
''Beirut faced fresh misery today as a third fire broke out in the space of a week in a city still reeling from the catastrophic port explosion which killed nearly 200 people last month.

Black clouds of smoke were pouring from the futuristic Zaha Hadid-designed shopping centre today on the main road that passes by the port in central Beirut.

The cause of the fire is not clear, but firefighters doused the bright red flames with water hoses fired from a crane into the smouldering facade of the building.

Separately, there were reports of yet another blaze at a sports facility elsewhere in Beirut, with footage appearing to show smoke rising near a major road.

The series of fires in the last week has brought fresh anguish to a city still in shock from the August 4 blast that devastated Beirut and unleashed a wave of outrage at corruption and incompetence among Lebanon's elite. ''

 

[dotr]

Dec 4 2020
Lebanon's Hezbollah suing those accusing it of port blast
''BEIRUT - Lebanon's Hezbollah said Friday it is suing a former Christian lawmaker and a website affiliated with a Christian political party for defamation, after they accused the Shiite militant group of being responsible for the devastating explosion at Beirut's port this summer.

Hezbollah's legal representative Ibrahim Mussawi said the accusations, levelled by Fares Souaid and the website of the right-wing Lebanese Forces party, were misleading.

Mussawi, also a Hezbollah lawmaker, told a press conference outside the courts house that blaming the group threatens to disrupt social peace in Lebanon, at a time when the United States is exerting maximum pressure on his party and its allies. Washington considers Hezbollah a terrorist group and has been escalating sanctions against it and its political allies in Lebanon.''

 

[JerseyGirl]

Lebanese MPs accused of Beirut blast ‘cover up’ over trial move

 

[dotr]

July 31 2022

Part of Beirut port silos, damaged in 2020 blast, collapses

A section of Beirut's massive port grain silos, shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in the summer heat.

www.cp24.com

BEIRUT (AP) - A section of Beirut's massive port grain silos, shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in the summer heat.

''The northern block of the silos toppled after what sounded like an explosion, kicking up thick gray dust that enveloped the iconic structure and the port next to a residential area. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured.

Assaad Haddad the General Director of the Port Silo, told The Associated Press that “everything is under control” but that the situation has not subsided yet. Minutes later, the dust subsided and calm returned.


However, Youssef Mallah, from the Civil Defense department, said that other parts of the silos' northern block were at risk and that other sections of the giant ruin could collapse.

The 50 year-old, 48 meter (157 feet) tall silos had withstood the force of the explosion two years ago, effectively shielding the western part of Beirut from the blast that killed over 200 people, injured more than 6,000 and badly damaged entire neighborhoods.

In July, a fire broke out in the northern block of the silos due to the fermenting grains. Firefighters and Lebanese Army soldiers were unable to put it out and it smoldered for weeks, a nasty smell spreading around. The environment and health ministries last week issued instructions to residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated spaces.''

 

[PrairieWind]

July 31 2022

Part of Beirut port silos, damaged in 2020 blast, collapses

A section of Beirut's massive port grain silos, shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in the summer heat.

www.cp24.com

View attachment 357009
BEIRUT (AP) - A section of Beirut's massive port grain silos, shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in the summer heat.

''The northern block of the silos toppled after what sounded like an explosion, kicking up thick gray dust that enveloped the iconic structure and the port next to a residential area. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured.

Assaad Haddad the General Director of the Port Silo, told The Associated Press that “everything is under control” but that the situation has not subsided yet. Minutes later, the dust subsided and calm returned.


However, Youssef Mallah, from the Civil Defense department, said that other parts of the silos' northern block were at risk and that other sections of the giant ruin could collapse.

The 50 year-old, 48 meter (157 feet) tall silos had withstood the force of the explosion two years ago, effectively shielding the western part of Beirut from the blast that killed over 200 people, injured more than 6,000 and badly damaged entire neighborhoods.

In July, a fire broke out in the northern block of the silos due to the fermenting grains. Firefighters and Lebanese Army soldiers were unable to put it out and it smoldered for weeks, a nasty smell spreading around. The environment and health ministries last week issued instructions to residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated spaces.''

Those silos were still standing? With grain in them? Are you kidding me?