Eight more silos collapse in blast-ravaged Beirut port in Lebanon

 Another significant section of the blast-ravaged Beirut Port silos collapsed early on Tuesday. However, there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. The recent collapse was another painful reminder of the horrific August 2020 explosion.

The recent collapse left the silos’ southern part standing next to a pile of charred ruins. According to media reports, eight more grain silos at Beirut port collapsed in a cloud of dust. The collapse also brought down the last of the northern block of silos that was heavily damaged in the blast. Reportedly, a fire had been burning in the northern block of silos since July. The condition of the block deteriorated after it caught fire due to fermenting grains.

Reportedly, after the recent incident, Lebanon’s caretaker environment minister, Nasser Yassin, said that the Lebanese government will now look into how to ensure the southern block remains standing.

In April, the Lebanese government decided to demolish the silos. However, protests erupted in major cities in Lebanon. Subsequently, the government suspended the decision to demolish the silos. The protesters wanted the silos to remain in place as a memorial and reminder of the corruption and negligence of politicians. They demanded the silos remain in place until a stalled probe into the explosion concluded. 

Many people in Lebanon blame the politicians for the 2020 port blast incident. The Beirut explosion killed more than 200 people. It took place on August 4, 2020. The tragic incident was caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely for years. A fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was stored unsafely in a warehouse in Beirut since 2014. 

According to The Associated Press, survivors of the blast and residents near the port revealed that watching the fire from their homes was like reliving the trauma of the 2020 port blast.