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Army evacuates area surrounding port out of fear of silos' collapse

Army evacuates area surrounding port out of fear of silos' collapse

Smoke rises from the silos at the Beirut port on July 29, 2022. (Credit: Smoke coming from the silos at the port on July 29, 2022. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army has evacuated the area within a 500-meter radius of the Beirut port out of fear that the explosion-damaged grain silos, which have been further damaged by a series of fires in recent weeks, will collapse, an army source told L'Orient Today.

Here's what we know:

   • On Monday, the ministries of  Environment and Health Ministries issued instructions and warnings for those living around the port, as some parts of the damaged grain silos there are at risk of collapsing.

   • In a statement, the two ministries said that “in the case of any collapse or a partial fall [of the silos], dust that is the result of construction leftovers and some fungus from rotten grains will be released and will spread in the air," adding that according to experts, there is no proof of the existence of asbestos in the silos. “It’s very likely that the area surrounding the port [500 meters radius] and the area inside the port borders will likely be affected by a huge amount of dust in the air and should be evacuated immediately in case this happens.”

   • The two ministries said that the area between a 500 and 1,500 meter radius of the port which includes Downtown Beirut, Geitawi, Karantina and Mar Mitr will be affected by a limited amount of dust for up to 24 hours, noting that people who work and live in the area should close their windows and those present outside of buildings should wear a KN95 mask during the first two hours of a collapse.

   • As  of Friday, smoke was once again visible coming from the port silos, where fires have ignited repeatedly in recent weeks. Officials have said the fires are a result of fermentation in the grains that remain around the site. The Solidarity Campaign to Protect the Beirut Port silos, a group of activists who want the silos to be preserved in commemoration of the blast issued a statement calling on officials to "contain the fire, making sure it does not extend to the remaining Silos, and to take immediate action to strengthen and prop the Silos... and protect the neighboring residents from any potential health or psychological hazards" that could result from the silos' burning or their collapse.

   • On Tuesday, a Parliament session turned into a shouting match and adjourned early following a vote on expedited status for two laws that would protect the Beirut port silos from demolition. After Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri asserted that the majority of MPs had voted against giving the laws expedited status, which would allow the full Parliament to vote on the proposals without having to go through committee approval first, MP Paula Yacoubian (Forces of Change/Beirut I) said that most of the MPs had voted for giving expedited status to the proposal and demanded a recount.

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army has evacuated the area within a 500-meter radius of the Beirut port out of fear that the explosion-damaged grain silos, which have been further damaged by a series of fires in recent weeks, will collapse, an army source told L'Orient Today.Here's what we know:   • On Monday, the ministries of  Environment and Health Ministries issued instructions and...