The northern block of silos collapsed after what sounded like an explosion, spewing thick gray dust that enveloped the iconic structure and the harbor next to a residential area. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured. Assaad Haddad, the general manager of Port Silo, told The Associated Press that “everything is under control” but that the situation has not yet subsided. A few minutes later, the dust settled and calm returned. However, Youssef Mallah, from the Civil Defense department, said that other parts of the northern part of the silos were at risk and that other parts of the giant ruin could collapse. A section of the silo complex along Beirut’s waterfront is seen burning on Friday. The fire started on July 7 due to fermentation of remaining grain stocks combined with rising temperatures. (Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images) The giant 50-year-old, 48-meter-tall silos withstood the force of the blast two years ago, effectively shielding western Beirut from the chemical blast that killed more than 200 people, injured more than 6,000 and heavily damaged entire neighborhoods. In July a fire broke out in the north block of silos due to fermenting grain. Firefighters and Lebanese Army soldiers were unable to put it out and it smoldered for weeks, an unpleasant smell spread around. The environment and health ministries last week issued instructions to residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated areas. Part of the silos can be seen burning on the night of July 14th. (Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images) The fire and the dramatic sight of the smoldering, partially blackened silo revived memories and in some cases trauma for survivors of the giant explosion that ripped through the harbor two years ago.
People rush indoors after the collapse
Many rushed to close windows and return indoors after the collapse on Sunday. Emmanuel Durand, a French civil engineer who volunteered for the government-commissioned panel of experts, told the AP that the northern part of the silo had already toppled from the day of the 2020 explosion, but the latest fire had weakened its fragile structure. . precipitating a possible collapse. When the fermented grains caught fire earlier in July, firefighters and Lebanese soldiers tried to douse the fire with water, but withdrew after the humidity made it worse. The interior ministry said more than a week later that the fire had spread after reaching some nearby power lines. The silos continued to smolder for weeks as the smell of fermented grain wafted into nearby neighborhoods. Residents who had survived the 2020 blast said the fire and smell reminded them of their trauma. The environment and health ministries last week asked residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated areas. The Lebanese Red Cross distributed K-N95 masks to those living nearby, and officials ordered firefighters and dock workers to stay away from the immediate area near the silos.
The engineer says the collapse was inevitable
Emmanuel Durand, a French civil engineer who volunteered on the government-commissioned panel of experts, told the AP earlier in July that the northern part of the silo had slowed over time, but that the recent fire accelerated the pace and caused irreversible damage to the already weakened structure. Here’s a view of Beirut’s badly damaged waterfront and the still-intact side of the silo complex as part of it continued to smolder last Thursday, a week after the flames were extinguished. (Hussein Malla/The Associated Press) Durant monitored the silos from thousands of kilometers away using data generated by sensors he installed a year ago and kept a group of Lebanese government and security officials informed of developments in a WhatsApp group. In several reports, he warned that the northern bloc could collapse at any time. Last April, the Lebanese government decided to demolish the silos, but suspended the decision after protests by families of victims and survivors of the explosion. They argue that the silos may contain evidence useful to the forensic investigation and should be a memorial to the tragic event. Lebanon’s investigation revealed that senior government and security officials knew about the dangerous material being stored at the port, although no officials have been convicted so far. The officials involved then launched legal challenges against the judge presiding over the investigation, which left the investigation on hold since December.
