The devastated EDL headquarters in Beirut. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
Électricité du Liban (EDL) reported on Tuesday "significant damage to the high-voltage networks in the Akkar governorate" following celebratory gunfire after the municipal elections on Sunday.
"Following the announcement of the municipal election results on Sunday ... unknown individuals fired bullets at the high-voltage transmission lines in the regions of Halba, Hesnieh, Beit Hadara, and the Jisr Arka region to celebrate the election results," said EDL in a statement. These acts "damaged many transmission lines over long distances, particularly those supplying electricity to the entire Akkar governorate, and severely compromised investments and public safety," the autonomous office added.
The public provider called on the Lebanese "to refrain from shooting at high-voltage lines, which has become frequent lately, as it could deprive Akkar of electricity due to the damages caused and pose risks to public safety." It also urged the security forces to arrest the perpetrators of the shootings and bring them to justice.
At least two people, including a journalist from LBCI, Nada Andraos, were injured by stray bullets from intense celebratory gunfire in northern Lebanon on Sunday evening, following the announcement of the municipal election results.