Beirut port: Huge fire breaks out a month after deadly explosion
A huge fire broke out on Thursday at the Port of Beirut, the site of last month’s catastrophic explosion that killed nearly 200 people and devastated parts of the capital.
The new fire — nearly 40 days after the blast — triggered widespread panic among traumatized residents of the area.
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the fire at the facility, which was decimated by the Aug 4 explosion when nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate detonated. The blast triggered a shock wave that blew out windows, doors, and walls miles away and was felt as far away as the island of Cyprus.
A column of thick black smoke billowed from the port at midday Thursday, with orange flames leaping from the ground. Smoke covered the capital and firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene. Army helicopters were taking part in efforts to extinguish the fire.
“We opened all windows and are in the corridor right now,” said Dana Awad, a mother of two girls in a Beirut neighborhood. “I am still feeling the earth shake. Living a flashback.” She was referring to the tremor that preceded the Aug 4 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.
Lebanese troops closed the major road that passes near the port rerouting traffic to other areas.
State-run National News Agency said the fire was at a warehouse where tires are placed. It added that firefighters are dealing with the blaze.
Beirut Gov Marwan Abboud and authorities called on people to stay away from roads leading to the port to allow fire engines to move quickly.
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 is too early to know if it is the result of heat or some other mistake,” al-Qaissi said adding that the black smoke was from burning tires.
It was the second fire at the port this week. On Tuesday, a small fire erupted, also creating some panic, that was quickly extinguished.
