Firefighters have been fighting a fire in grain silos in the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut for two weeks. As of Tuesday, smoke was still coming from the tall storage tanks that many have come to symbolize the 2020 disaster (see video above).
In one of the northern blocks, 800 tons of grain is fermenting due to the heat. On Monday, the authorities had warned of the collapse of the silos. In this case, residents were told to wear masks and stay at home, it said.
On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion occurred in the port of Beirut. At that time, more than 190 people died and about 6,000 were injured. The harbor and large parts of the adjacent residential areas were destroyed.
Large quantities of the highly explosive chemical ammonium nitrate, which had previously been stored in the harbor for years without protective measures, exploded. To this day, authorities have not explained exactly how the substance got into the port.
Silos are now being demolished
In April, the authorities decided to demolish the silos against the resistance of relatives. A representative for the next of kin said on Tuesday that the families of the victims are angry and sad that the silos (pictured below) are in danger of collapsing. They are still symbol and proof of the accident.
Experts suspect that the silos absorbed some of the force of the massive explosion, preventing even greater damage. The relatives of the victims want to keep the silos as a symbol of memory – at least until the investigation into the blast is completed.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
