BEIRUT, Aug. 4, 2022 (Xinhua) Four additional silos of wheat silos collapsed in the damaged sheds of Beirut Port today (Thursday), and this occurred in conjunction with the second anniversary of the explosion in the port on this day in the year 2020.
Local channels broadcast scenes of the collapse of the northern silos of the silos of the silos, as the collapse caused the spread of a patch of dust at a distance of 1,500 meters from the port of Beirut, at a time when a helicopter of the Lebanese army worked to spray water on the silos of the silos of the silos of wheat to limit the spread of dust due to the fires burning due to the fermentation of grains and the shaking of the infrastructure.
Last Sunday, two silos on the northern side of the destroyed wheat silos fell amid official expectations of more collapses due to the increase in bends in the silos due to wheat fermentation and burning for about 3 weeks without being able to extinguish it.
The collapse came after official warnings from the Ministries of Environment and Health last July 25 that parts of the wheat silos may collapse as a result of the fires that broke out after all attempts to withdraw the grain stored in some pockets of the silos failed, due to the cracking in the concrete of the sacks.
An explosion occurred in the port of Beirut in the 12 berth, which, according to the Lebanese authorities, contained about 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, which had been confiscated from a ship stored since 2014.
The explosion killed more than 200 people and wounded about 6,500 others, as well as enormous material damage to residential and commercial neighborhoods, as about 50,000 housing units were completely or partially destroyed, while material losses were estimated at nearly $15 billion.
On the other hand, senior Lebanese officials pledged today to achieve full justice for the victims of the Beirut port explosion and to hold all those involved accountable.
According to a statement issued by the presidency, Lebanese President Michel Aoun affirmed his commitment to achieving justice for the victims of the explosion by revealing the full truth through a fair judicial process.
In turn, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed in a statement that “we will not reach justice without punishing the criminals, and there will be no resurrection for Lebanon without full justice, no matter how long it takes.”
For his part, Caretaker Minister of Justice Henry Khoury promised, in a statement to the families of the victims and those injured in the port explosion, to “neutralize the investigation from all political conflicts and disputes and stand by the truth.”
As for the families of the victims, the wounded and those affected in the port explosion, today they carried out 3 marches towards the port of Beirut, the parliament and the French embassy, calling on the authorities to continue investigations into the explosion.
The rallies raised Lebanese flags, pictures of the victims, and banners calling for the criminals to be held accountable and for justice.
Opposition deputies, trade unionists, partisans and civil society organizations participated in the rallies.
In a press conference in downtown Beirut, the Association of Families of Victims of the Beirut Port Explosion criticized the obstruction of the investigation into the explosion.
A march in front of the French embassy called for the establishment of an international fact-finding committee to support the investigation of the judicial investigator into the explosion.
The investigation into the port explosion faces several stumbling blocks and obstacles that make it suspended without final indictments, in light of differences between the political forces regarding the valid reference to interrogate former ministers who are suspected of negligence.
The judiciary had brought charges of negligence against the Prime Minister at the time of the explosion, Hassan Diab, the former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, the former Ministers of Public Works Youssef Fenianos and Ghazi Zuaiter, and the former Minister of Interior Nouhad Al-Mashnouq.
The accused officials denied any wrongdoing and refused to interrogate them as suspects and accused the judge of violating his powers, considering that holding them accountable is the prerogative of the Supreme Council for the Trial of Presidents and Ministers. /ts/