Lebanon, Beirut – Investigations regarding the tragic Beirut port explosion had forced the people’s hand into demanding the arrest of port officials after the catastrophic incident that shocked the city.
The explosion that had taken place this week caused mass devastation and mayhem as 137 people were recorded killed by the blast effect under debris and rubble while 5000 people were severely injured after the sonic boom of the explosion had shattered all windows in the city radius and blew off a few balconies from nearby buildings.
President Michael Aoun and his staff announced that the cause of the explosion was tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored improperly in a warehouse, which goes against the dangerous goods handling protocol of being in an environment without pipes of near heat.
Ammonium Nitrate is mainly used for fertilizer and explosives and was confiscated from a ship with the bearings of Georgia to Mozambique named Rhosus, a moldovan-flaggeded cargo ship.
Lebanese customs chief Badr Dahr stated that he had requested for the chemical to be moved from the warehouse at the port. However, no actions were taken to move the chemical, casting more doubt about the efficiency of the Lebanese government.
Political turmoil and protest had gripped the country with the Lebanese people citing distrust for the current government , recalling the car bombing assasination of late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, whose 4 perpetrators were due for trial on the 7th of August which was moved to a later date after the explosion had occurred.
“Unquestionably one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in history” explained University of Sheffield specialists that the explosion had 1/10th of the explosive power of Little Boy and Fat Man, the atomic bombs that had hit Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Humanitarian supplies and aid are being sent by Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Russia and the European Union.
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin posted on twitter, “We share the pain of the Lebanese people and sincerely reach out to offer our aid at this difficult time.”
Israel and Lebanon had butted-headed many times even after the ceasefire was agreed upon in 1949 due to factors like Hezbollah’s militant stance against the Jewish nation and the minor assistance in the 6-day war, however, with Israel’s offer to aid the hurting country, marks the first time the two countries had been supportive to the other.
The French President Emmanuel Macron turned off the lights of the Eiffel tower for the lives lost in the Beirut explosion, promoting people to pray for Beirut last week.
UNICEF has joined in requesting aid and support for Lebanon as it faces the most tragic events in current history amidst the on-going COVID-19 pandemic that has nearly shut the world’s economy.
The Lebanese government is currently running deep investigations of the officials who handled the impounding of the Rhosus crew on 2013 which resulted in 10 months of the crew being unable to touch land and remain in the cargo ship while the ammonium nitrate was confiscated in the now destroyed Beirut port warehouse.
