Video: Massive Fire Erupts at Beirut Port Month after Explosion
By Nabih Bulos
Source Los Angeles Times
A large fire broke out in Beirut's port Thursday, filling the skies of the Lebanese capital with thick black smoke and raising fears of a repeat of the cataclysmic explosion that devastated large swaths of the city last month.
Raging flames engulfed a warehouse in the duty-free area of the port. The warehouse contained oil and tires, according to a statement by the Lebanese army.
Michel Murr, a spokesman for the fire department, said by telephone that the fire began after workers were cutting metal near the warehouse. Last month's explosion is suspected to have been caused by materials catching fire after welding and maintenance work.
Beirut governor Marwan Abboud called on residents to stay away from the port's environs and not obstruct the work of fire crews.
On Aug. 4, a stockpile of 2,755 tons of ammonium nitrate — a fertilizer which turns explosive when mixed with accelerants— detonated inside the port, killing nearly 200 people, injuring thousands and leaving hundreds of thousands without a home.
On social media, terrified residents shared videos of a column of smoke billowing over already-devastated neighborhoods. One video showed port workers running away from the blaze for fear of a repeat of last month's blast.
For many other Beirutis, the fire also brought back unwelcome memories of the Aug. 4 explosion. An hour after the fire in the port began, traffic was snarled as panicked drivers sought to get away, even as others lined the highway near the port to get a closer view.
Trucks, ambulances and fire crews raced to the scene to combat the fire. A helicopter dipped a large bucket into the sea and dropped the water on the flames.
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