Beirut residents were for years unaware of the massive “bomb” festering inside their seaport
The 10 firefighters who received the call a bit before 6 p.m. — alerting them of a big fire at the nearby port of Beirut — could not know what awaited them.
They knew, of course, that they lived in a dysfunctional country, its government rife with corruption, factionalism and negligence that caused so much pain and heartbreak. But they could not know that it would lead to the worst single-day catastrophe in Lebanon’s tragic history.Across the city, residents who noticed the grey smoke billowing over the facility were drawn to streets, balconies and windows, watching curiously as the fire grew larger.
The Port of Beirut is considered one of the most corrupt institutions in a country where nearly every public institution is riddled with corruption. For years, Lebanon’s ruling political factions have divvied up positions at the port and handed them out to supporters — as they have ministries, public companies and other facilities nationwide.The first known warning came on Feb. 21, 2014, three months after the ship docked at the port.
A chemical forensic expert, commissioned by the courts and the owners of the ammonium nitrate, got a look at the stockpile soon after soon after it was move into the port’s Warehouse 12 in October 2014.It was “in terrible shape,” she said in her February 2015 report. Most of the sacks — she estimated more than 1,900 of the total of 2,750 — were torn open, their contents spilling out.
Daher told the AP and other media that he never received any reply from the court. But Kobaissi, the investigative reporter, found documents showing the court responded each time that it didn’t have jurisdiction and that the Public Works Ministry had to decide.The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation did not respond to requests for comment.On the afternoon of Aug.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Beirut needs billions of dollars it doesn’t have to rebuild after massive blastFinancial crisis leaves city starved for reconstruction funding and its traditional character in peril.
Read more »
After the Beirut Explosion, Volunteers Step Up to Do What the Government Can’tDonors say aid to Lebanon will be delivered directly to the people, bypassing the country’s political leadership. But it remains to be seen how successful local groups will be in dealing with such a widespread catastrophe.
Read more »
Covid-19 Salary Cuts Are Coming to an End at Some CompaniesSome companies are beginning to restore cuts they made to managers’ salaries and bonuses, a sign that some industries—and their white-collar workers—are benefiting from glimmers of a recovery while millions of others continue to endure job and income losses.
Read more »
BRB, Admiring the Amazing Outfits in BTS's 'Dynamite' Music Video For Hours on EndBTS's 'Dynamite' music video is filled with tons of '70s and '90s fashion trends, and we're obsessed.
Read more »
S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records after upbeat business surveysThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs on Friday, as data pointed to some pockets of strength in the U.S. economy.
Read more »
Our Work Is Not Done Until We End Voter Suppression'There have been important steps along the way, but we still need sweeping changes to our current electoral system that will ensure and protect the right to vote for all citizens.' MsLaToshaBrown writes:
Read more »