Engineer Emmanuel Durand laser scans grain silos damaged by the massive explosion at Beirut’s port. (Credit: Dia Mrad)
BEIRUT — The director general of the Beirut port, Omar Itani, and caretaker Public Works minister Ali Hamieh both denied on Monday a media report claiming that demolition of the Beirut port silos had begun.
Here’s what we know:
• On Monday local media outlet ICI Beyrouth reported that demolition of the silos had begun based on pictures of "three large machines that look like drills" "digging the ground under the silos," taken on Saturday by a group of people who are “following the file.” The machines were “probably” being used to destabilize the structure, the report continued.
• Itani said the machines seen in the photos were used to unload wheat ships prior to the explosion.
• Hamieh told VDL radio he had no knowledge of demolition operations at the port.
• For his part the head of the General Directorate of Cereals and Sugarbeets, Georges Berberi, told L’Orient Today the news of the demolition was not true to his knowledge.
• William Noun, a spokesperson for the families of the Beirut port explosion victims, also denied the report to Lebanon Debate, saying he had personally inspected the site this morning.
• Lebanese authorities want the silos destroyed, saying that studies have shown the structure is in danger of collapsing. However, the families of the port blast victims oppose their demolition, believing that the authorities are seeking to destroy evidence. Last month, MPs from the Kataeb party introduced a draft law in Parliament that would classify the silos as a national monument to commemorate the victims of the explosion, preventing their demolition.
• Meanwhile, on Monday night, photographer Daniel Carde reported that a fire was burning in the silos for the second time in a week. A L'Orient Today photographer also reported seeing smoke coming from the site. The previous fire had reportedly been the result of the fermentation of wheat remains left in the silos.
Apparently another fire just broke out in the grain silos at Beirut port. Firefighters had extinguished a blaze Thursday after light fumes were emerging amid high summer temperatures. Fermentation of wheat is a possible cause, local media outlets say. https://t.co/sk6ftJVHzL
— Sally Abou AlJoud | سالي (@JoudSally) July 11, 2022