Beirut Explosion: Port Officials Overseeing Storage, Security Placed ‘Under House Arrest’
LAGOS AUGUST 5TH (NEWSRANGERS)-All Beirut Port security and storage officials are reportedly under house arrest after a massive explosion that left thousands injured and killed at least 100 people has damaged around half of the city.
The blast sent seismic shockwaves through the city on Tuesday evening, destroying dozens of buildings and shattering windows. The cost of the damage is around $3billion, it was said today.
It was reportedly caused by “highly explosive sodium nitrate” confiscated from a ship by Lebanese authorities and placed in one of the warehouses located near the harbour. The Beirut port manager said he had no idea of the “extent” of the “dangerous materials” .
Lebanon’s cabinet on Wednesday agreed to place all Beirut port officials who have overseen storage and security since 2014 under house arrest, ministerial sources have reportedly said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hassan Diab has appealed to all countries and friends of Lebanon for help in a short televised speech, saying: “We are witnessing a real catastrophe.”
The head of Lebanon’s Red Cross said: “What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe. There are victims and casualties everywhere.”
Evening Standard
Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=54604
Posted by News Rangers
on Aug 5 2020. Filed under International, National.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
