Greenpeace warned residents of Beirut on Thursday (September 9th) against "
toxic
"
particles that
could be found in the thick black smoke caused by a fire in the port of the Lebanese capital.
Read also: Beirut: a major fire broke out again on the port
The fire affected a warehouse in the port where oil was stored but also tires, according to the Lebanese army.
Throughout the afternoon, the sky over Beirut was covered in thick black smoke, visible even outside the capital.
"
The smoke can include highly toxic and carcinogenic compounds, black carbon and acid gases
," the environmental protection NGO said on Twitter.
“
Burning tires produce fine particles, visible smoke and ash, but also volatile organic pollutants that can be inhaled even outside of the smoke cloud
,” Greenpeace said.
For her part, university professor Najat Saliba, a specialist in atmospheric chemistry, on Twitter called on residents to "
stay at home and close the windows
", urging them to keep a mask on their face.
The fire awakened the pain of the Lebanese still reeling from the deadly and devastating explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4.