[182] On 12 August, Lebanon's caretaker Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm commented on the investigation by saying: "Much of the criticism is warranted due to the slow pace of work and some politicisation, but this case is a chance for the Lebanese judiciary to prove they can do their jobs and win back the confidence of the people". Videos show smoke billowing from a … [212], On 9 August, the information minister of Lebanon, Manal Abdel Samad and then environment minister, Damianos Kattar resigned, the first government resignations since the explosion. In addition to those countries which provided aid, others offered to do so. [176], On 5 August, the Council agreed to place sixteen Beirut port officials who had overseen storage and security since 2014 under house arrest, overseen by the army, pending the investigation into the explosions. [49][50] The orange-red colour of the smoke was caused by nitrogen dioxide, a byproduct of ammonium nitrate decomposition. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Detailed 0.5 m satellite imagery of explosion aftermath, Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, long history of industrial disasters globally, "Beirut explosion shatters windows across Lebanese capital", "Crisis hits Lebanon's hospitals, among the best in Mideast", "Hundreds wounded as huge blast rips through Lebanon's Beirut", "What is the Port of Beirut? [46] The ride-sharing app Careem offered free rides to and from hospitals and blood donation centers to anyone willing to donate blood. Close the skills gap in your team with a highly-trained intelligence analyst, fully vetted and chosen to match your exact requirements. The Moldovan … Lebanon’s court of cassation on Thursday removed Judge Fadi Sawan from the case, after a request from two of the former ministers he had charged — Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter. BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Lebanese court on Thursday removed the judge leading the investigation into the Beirut port explosion, a move likely to further delay a probe that has faced fierce political pushback. So … Officials did not say what caused the initial blaze that set off the blast. BEIRUT: Six months on from the deadly explosion in Beirut Port, the investigation into its causes has gone back to square one. Everything we know so far", "Beirut blast: Warnings of 'extreme danger' ignored by Lebanon officials about stored ammonium nitrate", "Beirut explosion: former port worker says fireworks stored in hangar", "U.S. [190], The Lebanese Red Cross said every available ambulance from North Lebanon, Bekaa, and South Lebanon was being dispatched to Beirut to help patients. Also, former ministers of both finance and public works are due to be interrogated by a judge appointed by the Lebanon's High Judicial Council. The reddish cloud seen following the second blast caused speculation regarding other chemicals which could have been present in the warehouse, and also raised fears of toxic gases being released into the air following the blast. By Najia Houssari. In Beirut, the disaster has had such tragic consequences for reasons unrelated to the explosion itself. 370 shares. The blast was also felt across Turkey, Syria, Israel, Palestine and parts of Europe, and was heard in Cyprus, more than 240 km (150 mi) away. [35][39][40], The second explosion, 33 to 35 seconds later, was much more substantial[41][42][43][44][40] and was felt in northern Israel and in Cyprus, 240 kilometers (150 miles) away. Youssef Fenianos, former minister of public works, was due … The same substance that blew up a large section of Beirut last week was used by Hezbollah numerous times before against the US and around the world. Beirut blast: Port officials under house arrest as negligence suspected as cause of chemical explosion. Some didn't like what they found. [35] Warehouse 12 was waterside and next to the grain silos; the warehouse stored the ammonium nitrate that had been confiscated from MV Rhosus, alongside a stash of fireworks. [10][24], By order of the judge, the cargo was brought ashore in 2014 and placed in Warehouse 12 at the port,[30] where it remained for the next six years. The palace had been restored over a twenty-year period following the. AFP / Getty Images. It is not clear how capable the Lebanese Government is of carrying out extensive repairs and structural examinations. The blast was even felt in Cyprus, around 240 kilometers (150 miles) away, and registered as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake. Although Mustapha Adib was announced as the Prime Minister designate, he failed to form a new government and stepped down. [k] Notably, Israel offered aid via UN channels, as Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic ties and are technically at war;[233][234][235] the offer was refused by the Lebanese government. [9], On 27 September 2013, the Moldovan-flagged cargo ship MV Rhosus set sail from Batumi, Georgia, to Beira, Mozambique, carrying 2,750 tonnes (3,030 short tons) of ammonium nitrate. [18][19] Eight Ukrainians and one or two Russians were aboard,[23] and with the help of the Ukrainian consul, five Ukrainians were repatriated, leaving four crew members to care for the ship. A security source and local media said it was started by welding work carried out on a hole in the warehouse. [145][i] The Armenian Catholicosate in Antelias sustained great damage. The story that led to the tragic explosion in Beirut port on Tuesday began more than six years ago, 1,300 kilometres from the Lebanese capital. At around 18:00hrs local time on the 4th August 2020, a large explosion took place at a warehouse at the Port of Beirut. However, economic mismanagement and lack of accountability for government officials have been a common factor in motivating protests across the country. A massive blast on 4 August has caused widespread damage in the port area of the city of Beirut in Lebanon, with 100 people reported dead and 4000 injured. The story that led to the tragic explosion in Beirut port on Tuesday began more than six years ago, 1,300 kilometres from the Lebanese capital. Around 17:55 local time (14:55 UTC), a team of nine firefighters and one paramedic, known as Platoon 5, was dispatched to fight the fire. By Michael Le Page. Their study found that a best estimate and upper bound prediction of the yield of the explosion are 0.5 and 1.12 kt of TNT, respectively. A MASSIVE explosion in Lebanon’s capital city Beirut has killed at least 135 people and injured nearly 5,000 others. Beirut blast investigation slow to find answers . A Lebanese investigation into the cause of the blast has so far failed to prosecute those responsible, even though politicians promised in August the probe would only take five days. The Isreali News source WorldIsraelNews.com reported this morning: The ammonium nitrate … [b][11] Letters had been sent on 27 June and 5 December 2014, 6 May 2015, 20 May and 13 October 2016, and 27 October 2017. [37], The first explosion, at about 18:07 local time (15:07 UTC), likely triggered by the stored fireworks, sent up a large cloud of smoke and a crackle of bright firework flashes, and heavily damaged the structure of the warehouse itself with a force equivalent to around 1.5-2.5 tons of TNT, the size of a mid-sized truck. [181][184], Lebanese judge Fadi Sawan,[185] who has been responsible for the investigation, summoned former Minister of Transportation and Public Works Ghazi Aridi, Labor Ministers Ghazi Zaiter, Youssef Fenianos and Michel Najjar, General Director of the Lebanese State Security Tony Saliba, Director General of Lebanon's Land and Maritime Transport division, Abdul-Hafeez Al-Qaisi, and General Director of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim. © 2021 Intelligence Fusion. Warehouse 12 was waterside and next to the grain silos; the warehouse stored the ammonium nitrate that had been confiscated from MV Rhosus, alongside a stash of fireworks. ", "Satellite Images Show Aftermath Of Beirut Blast", "Beirut explosion rocks Lebanon's capital city", "Beirut's residents describe apocalyptic scenes after explosion rocks city", "Devastating: the terrible aftermath of the Beirut explosion", "Beirut explosion causes strong shock waves - Infrasonic, hydroacoustic and seismic signals registered and investigated by BGR", "Beirut explosion 'one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, "Port officials under house arrest after Beirut blast", "Preliminary yield estimation of the 2020 Beirut explosion using video footage from social media", "Beirut blast was 'historically' powerful", "Explosion analysis from images: Trinity and Beirut", "What we know about the massive chemical explosion in Beirut", "Massive blast in Beirut kills at least 10, sending shockwaves across city", "Lebanon: Beirut Explosion. As Lebanon's investigation into the devastating blast in Beirut continues, officials have pointed to a possible cause: A massive shipment of … Build your ideal solution and futureproof your intelligence unit with easy-to-use, scalable threat intelligence software. [159][160] On 7 August, the first lawsuit related to the explosions was filed by the ship's owners, Abou Merhi Cruises, whose offices were also destroyed. [164][165][166] Two large livestock carriers, Abou Karim I and Abou Karim III, laid up at the end of Berth 09, very close to Warehouse 12, were heavily damaged. The presence of explosives at the port affiliated with Hezbollah is possible, although no evidence has been seen to suggest that the explosions were caused by the presence of weapons or explosives. [198] On 14 August, a $565 million appeal for Lebanon was launched by the United Nations, including initial recovery efforts, as well as immediate humanitarian aid. [127] Several countries expressed solidarity by lighting up landmarks and monuments in the colours of the Lebanese flag, including the City Hall of Tel Aviv,[241][m] whereas the Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark at midnight,[251] and the Arab League flew its flag at its headquarters in Cairo at half-mast. [125][126], The explosion overturned cars and stripped steel-framed buildings of their cladding. The Dutch ambassador's wife, Hedwig Waltmans-Molier, was seriously injured and later died of her injuries. [215][216] On the night of 6 August, the protests against the government that had been ongoing since the previous October resumed, with dozens of protestors near the parliament building calling for the resignation of Lebanese government officials. [3] The morning before the explosion, the head of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, which served as the main coronavirus medical facility in Lebanon, warned that it was approaching full capacity. The immediate damage was extensive, with buildings across the city reporting various degrees of destruction, with buildings in the immediate vicinity of the port being totally destroyed. The owner of the vessel is expected to feature in the investigative committee’s findings (mentioned in previous section) and the vessel’s owner is currently believed to be residing in Cyprus. [197] The money pledged was not to be given to the Lebanese government, but rather to the people of Lebanon through the United Nations, other international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. [201][202][203][204][205][206], Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced that 5 August, the day after the explosions, would be a national day of mourning. A vessel affiliated with the UNFIL mission was also damaged. At least 100 people are dead and thousands are injured after Lebanon's capital Beirut was rocked by a blast so big it was registered as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake. [59] This is equal to around 1 GWh of energy. Six months on from the deadly explosion in Beirut Port, the investigation into its causes has gone back to square one. [237][238][l], The International Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated on 5 August, thus providing for widespread usage of various corporate, national, and international satellite assets on a humanitarian basis. Many civil society organizations offered equipment and food to the volunteers, while many residents and businesses opened their homes and hotels for free to those who lost their homes in the blast. Endemic corruption caused Beirut blast, says Diab: Live updates. Contractor Knew of Explosive Material in Beirut Since at Least 2016", "Hangar 12: fireworks were stored next to ammonium nitrate in Beirut warehouse, former workers say", "Beirut port blast death toll rises to 190", "Lebanon explosion: Deadly fuel tank blast rocks Beirut", "At least 43 Syrians among people killed in Beirut blast: Al Mayadeen", "Number of Armenians killed in Beirut explosion climbs to 13", "Missing Bangladeshi worker found dead in Beirut hospital", "Filipinos killed in Beirut blast rises to 4 while 31 injured", "Three Egyptians killed in Beirut explosion: Ministry", "Egypt repatriates bodies of three nationals killed in Beirut blast – Politics – Egypt", "Two Palestinian refugees succumb to wounds sustained in Beirut explosion", "Second Belgian death confirmed in Beirut explosion", "2 Canadians among those killed in Beirut explosion: Trudeau", "They were laid off and far from home. [60] Another study used several videos of the explosion to describe the evolution of the fireball size and estimated the Beirut explosion yield to be 0.6 ± 0.3 kt of TNT. The explosion of 2,750 t of ammonium nitrate in Beirut, Lebanon, has injured at least 6,000 people and left 300,000 homeless. At around 18:00hrs local time on the 4th August 2020, a large explosion … [137] Approximately ninety percent of the hotels in the city were damaged and three hospitals completely destroyed, while two more suffered damage. Starting with the epicentre, we follow how the 4 August blast ripped through the city, bringing life to a halt That blast wave levelled buildings near the … [4][5], The government-owned Port of Beirut serves as the main maritime entry point into Lebanon and a vital piece of infrastructure for the importation of scarce goods. Reports vary on the number of dead, estimated to be between 178 and 220 at the time of going to press. [147] The FIBA Asia headquarters was also heavily damaged. Registered in England no. Discover, evaluate and understand threats of every kind with an OSINT training course designed around military principles and real-life experiences. ", Murky world of international shipping behind explosion in Beirut, "What caused the Beirut explosion? The cause of the fire is not currently clear, but anecdotal accounts have claimed that welding was taking place at the time of the incident. [35][36][37] Around 17:55 local time (14:55 UTC), a team of nine firefighters and one paramedic, known as Platoon 5, was dispatched to fight the fire. Beirut, Lebanon – A government-led investigation is under way in Lebanon to probe the cause of the massive explosion that ripped through the capital, Beirut. [188] In January 2021, Interpol issued Red Notices[j] against the two Russians as well as a Portuguese man. The first explosion was quickly followed by a larger secondary explosion, videos of which have proliferated social media. An aerial view shows the massive damage done to Beirut’s port. [186][187], In September, Lebanon's state prosecution asked Interpol to detain two Russian citizens, the captain and the owner of Rhosus, as its cargo of ammonium nitrate was blamed for the explosion. [70] The failure to remove the materials from the warehouse and relocate them was attributed to mismanagement of the port, corruption of the government, and inaction of the flag registry's country and ship owner. Beirut Blast: The Cause, Impact and the Narratives Following a significant explosion at the Port of Beirut, injuring thousands, we take a closer look at the incident and what we know so far about the cause of the blast, the impact it will have and widespread narratives. Endemic corruption caused Beirut blast, says Diab: Live updates. The captain, Boris Prokoshev, wrote that Grechushkin had told him he had gone bankrupt, but noted that he did not believe Grechushkin. [255][256][n], Accidental ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, "Beirut explosion" redirects here. He had been live-streaming the fire at the warehouse on Facebook at the time. [158][168][119], Hapag-Lloyd's offices in Beirut were destroyed. Lebanon. The source of the blast is believed to be 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which had been stored in a warehouse without safety measures since 2014. The committee has been given four days to come to a conclusion. [24] The Rhosus soon ran out of provisions, and the remaining crew were unable to disembark due to immigration restrictions. [10][11][12][13][14] Rhosus was owned by a company based in Panama but was regarded by the captain as under the de facto ownership of Russian businessman Igor Grechushkin. [24][25], Grechushkin went bankrupt,[a] and after the charterers lost interest in the cargo, he abandoned the ship. Update 8/5/20: We've updated this story to include the cause of the blast, according to officials. Since Tuesday's explosion brought death and destruction to Lebanon's capital, Beirut, social media has been awash with speculation and conspiracy theories over the source of the huge blast. [174] The investigation is to examine whether the explosion was an accident or due to negligence, and if it was caused by a bomb or another external interference. According to local media and video footage, the initial explosion occurred at around 18:00 local … The explosion occurred behind the grain silos in this view. [18][12][13] Some sources said it was forced to port due to mechanical issues and possibly engine problems,[19][18] while other sources claimed the owner did not have sufficient funds to pay tolls for the Suez Canal and attempted to take on a shipment of heavy machinery in Beirut. [139], Saint George Hospital, one of the city's largest medical facilities, was less than 1 kilometer (5⁄8 mile) from the explosion, and was so badly damaged that staff were forced to treat patients in the street. The cruise ship Orient Queen, berthed nearby, suffered extensive damage and capsized overnight. [148] Embassies in and around Beirut reported varying degrees of damage to their buildings; the embassies of Argentina,[149] Australia,[150] Finland,[151] Cyprus,[132] and the Netherlands,[103] which were close to the blast, sustained heavy damage, while minor damage was reported from the South Korean,[152] Hungarian,[153] Kazakh,[154] Russian,[154] Bulgarian,[155] Romanian,[156] and Turkish[157] embassies. They had been forced to live aboard the ship for about a year. [225] President Michel Aoun accepted the resignation of the government and the Prime Minister, and asked the government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed. [253], As a result of the explosion, concerns were raised about the storage of ammonium nitrate in other ports across the world. The Lebanese government declared a two-week state of emergency in response to the disaster. [132][138] Dozens of injured people brought to nearby hospitals could not be admitted because of the damage to the hospitals. Advertisement. [210], Multiple members of the Lebanese parliament resigned in protest, including Marwan Hamadeh,[211] Paula Yacoubian,[212] all three Kataeb Party MPs,[212] Neemat Frem,[213] Michel Moawad,[213] Dima Jamali,[214] and Henri Helou. [117][118][119] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that 34 refugees were among the dead and missing, and an additional 124 refugees were injured. [221][222] On 10 August, the justice minister, Marie-Claude Najm, also resigned, followed by the resignation of the entire Lebanese cabinet. (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Azakir) The catastrophic explosion at Beirut port on Tuesday evening (August 4) that has so far killed at least 100 people and injured around 4,000, with an unknown number feared trapped under rubble was, according to the government of Lebanon, caused by … Max Taylor. [195], Health Minister Hamad Hasan requested that international aid be sent to Lebanon;[6] a number of countries sent in food, medical supplies, field hospitals, medical workers, and rescue teams. [38] Nazar Najarian, the secretary-general of the Kataeb Party, died after suffering severe head injuries. [27] According to Lloyd's List, the Beirut port authority seized the ship on 4 February 2014, due to US$100,000 in unpaid bills. [158][167] The livestock carrier Jouri and the cargo ships Mero Star and Raouf H were also close to the blast and suffered serious damage; AIS from these ships stopped broadcasting at the time of the explosion. [37][38] On arrival the fire crew reported there was "something wrong" as the fire was huge and produced "a crazy sound". Hazardous materials found at port (Imagery post event)", "Lebanese Army Just Found Over 4 Tons Of Explosive Material Near Beirut Port", "Dozens killed, thousands wounded in Beirut blast: Live updates", "What Is Ammonium Nitrate, Blamed in the Beirut Explosion? 17.02.2021… Lebanon: Beirut Blast Investigation Falters As Judge Removed From Case - Eurasia Review eurasiareview.com - Arab News. 09256653. [22] After inspection by port state control, the Rhosus was deemed unseaworthy, and was forbidden to set sail. [72][73] A former port worker said that "[t]here were 30 to 40 nylon bags of fireworks inside warehouse 12" that he had personally seen. Therefore, regardless of the result of the government-appointed investigative committee, many Lebanese citizens are expected to blame governmental mismanagement for the blast. In response, protests have occurred across Lebanon, mostly in Beirut and Tripoli, denouncing economic hardships as well as governmental corruption which is widely perceived as to blame for the current economic conditions. The vast quantity of ammonium nitrate was seized from a cargo vessel named ‘Rhosus’ (listed as a carrier of agricultural commodities) in 2013 by Lebanese authorities after it stopped at the Port of Beirut to pick up additional cargo. The economy of Lebanon was in a state of crisis before the explosions, with the government having defaulted on debt, the pound plunging, and a poverty rate that had risen past 50%. The explosions in Beirut were immediately followed by widespread speculation that the blast was the result of a form of hostile action from Israeli forces. [7] The port included four basins, sixteen quays, twelve warehouses,[7] a large container terminal,[8] and grain silos with a total capacity of 120,000 tonnes that served as a strategic reserve of cereals for the country. It has been six months since a huge explosion hit parts of Lebanon's capital, wreaking terrible devastation. [132] However, part of the silos' sturdy structure survived, shielding a large area of western Beirut from greater destruction. Ammonium nitrate is … [10][11][18][31] The MV Rhosus sank in the harbour in February 2018. The 2,700 tons of fertilizer believed to have caused the explosion that devastated Beirut had been confiscated from a Russian businessman — … Lebanon’s … [183] On 19 August, a Lebanon judge ordered the arrests of more suspects over the explosion, making the total number of accused 25. [180][181] In the meantime, Lebanon's state prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat ordered a travel ban on seven individuals including Hassan Koraytem. 'Lots of destruction' Video from the Beirut offices of the Daily Star, a Lebanese newspaper, appears to show fallen-in parts of the roof, blown-out … | #TheCube", "Russian captain recalls journey that led to deadly cargo being impounded", "Who owned the chemicals that blew up Beirut?
Brownies With Mayo No Eggs,
Aries Spears Shaq,
Funny Aerial Smash,
Thclear Disposable Pen Not Working,
Puff Plus Flavors Ranked,