Beirut fire brought under control after terrifying nation
Source: AP
By FADI TAWIL
BEIRUT (AP) — White smoke rose from the smoldering wreckage of Beirut’s port on Friday hours after firefighters extinguished a huge fire that terrified the city’s residents five weeks after a massive blast killed nearly 200 people and destroyed parts of Lebanon’s capital.
It wasn’t clear what caused the raging fire that broke out Thursday afternoon and covered the city with dark smoke and toxic fumes for hours, as fire fighters and army helicopters struggled to bring it under control. No one was hurt by the fire, the second at the port this week.
Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transpiration Michel Najjar, whose ministry is in charge of the port, told a local TV station the fire appears to have been caused by sparks from a power tool during work at the port. The claim has been dismissed by an outraged and deeply skeptic public, with some accusing authorities of starting the fire to destroy evidence that may be found in the port wreckage.
The fire led authorities to say they have ordered the removal of dangerous materials from the country’s ports and airport to avoid more such incidents that have traumatized the nation of 5 million. Military police opened an investigation into the fire.
Flames and smoke rise from burning warehouses at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 10. 2020. A huge fire broke out Thursday at the Port of Beirut, triggering panic among residents traumatized by last month's massive explosion that killed and injured thousands of people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Read more: https://apnews.com/63424ac718eea280010a99982f757b00
