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Disaster in Beirut
Two weeks before the disaster, Lebanon leaders warned: "Ammonium stockpile could explode"
Security officials have warned the Lebanese prime minister and president of the danger posed by thousands of tons of nitrate ammonium stored in the port of Beirut. The report they sent, in which they stated that the reservoir could destroy the capital, is the latest in a series of government negligence cases that have led to public outrage and widespread protests
Tags- Lebanon
- Beirut
Reuters
Tuesday, 11 August 2020, 01:13Lebanese security officials warned the prime minister and president last month that 2,750 tonnes of nitrate ammonium stored in the port of Beirut pose a security threat, and could destroy the capital if they explode, according to documents obtained by Reuters and senior security officials.
A little over two weeks later, the chemicals exploded and destroyed almost the entire port. At least 163 people were killed, more than 6,000 people were injured and about 6,000 buildings were destroyed.
A report by the General Security Administration, which is responsible for the security of the port, on the events that led to the explosion includes reference to a private letter sent to President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Hassan Diab on July 20.
While the contents of the letter were not in a report received by Reuters, a senior security official said it included the findings of a forensic investigation opened in January. She stated that the flammable materials should be stored securely immediately. The existence of the report has not been published so far.
"There was a danger that if this material was stolen, it could be used in a terrorist attack," the senior security official said. "At the end of the investigation, the Attorney General prepared a final report that was sent to the authorities," he said. "I warned them it could destroy Beirut if it exploded." The source, who was involved in writing the letter, refused to be identified by name. Reuters said they did not verify the description of the letter he gave.
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The offices of the Prime Minister, the President and the Prosecutor General did not respond. The correspondence is likely to heighten public criticism and outrage over the blast, which is the latest, if not the most prominent, example of government negligence and corruption that have already led Lebanon to an economic collapse. As protests continued last night, Diab's government resigned, though he would remain in charge until a new government was formed.
The restoration of the ruined Beirut is estimated at $ 15 billion. This is when Lebanon is already in bankruptcy, with losses of more than $ 100 billion in the banking system.
