Huge explosion in Lebanese capital, Beirut

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Carth

That stuff had only been sitting there for 6 or 7 years, what could possibly go wrong?

Unless there was some lengthy legality issue on ownership, you'd have thought they'd have sold most of it off by now (prospective buyers fully vetted ) . . . or moved it away from such a highly populated area.

'Officials 'asked for ammonium nitrate to be moved'
The highly explosive substance blamed for Tuesday's blast was meant to be moved, the port's general manager has told local broadcaster OTV.

Hassan Koraytem said the ammonium nitrate had been in the port for six years, following a court order.

But, despite instructions from the customs department and state secretary to move or export it, "nothing happened", he told the broadcaster.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/worl...-east-53664184

[Carth]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

'Officials 'asked for ammonium nitrate to be moved'
The highly explosive substance blamed for Tuesday's blast was meant to be moved, the port's general manager has told local broadcaster OTV.

Hassan Koraytem said the ammonium nitrate had been in the port for six years, following a court order.

But, despite instructions from the customs department and state secretary to move or export it, "nothing happened", he told the broadcaster.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/worl...-east-53664184

I can see the excuses being rolled out now . . "We didn't want to risk moving it, and it falling into the wrong hands"

[1andrew1]

Was someone signing off an invoice to pay for the storage every year? Beggars belief. Seems like a really tragic and avoidable situation.

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

There is some speculation that fireworks were also being stored in the warehouse so that could have been the smaller initial explosion with the red smoke.

Not really speculation, if you watch the videos you can clearly see and hear them going off in the fire before the main explosion.

Keeping tons of highly explosive materal next to a fireworks factory is Simpsons-esque in it's absurdity.

[Carth]

Originally Posted by Damien

Keeping tons of highly explosive materal next to a fireworks factory is Simpsons-esque in it's absurdity.

Yep, and as with just about every case of stupidity & incompetence from officialdom, thousands of innocents suffer while those in charge 'lawyer up' and get the excuses in early

[Hom3r]

I have seen many videos of what people saw, one was a woman and 3 you kids look out of a large window, the explosion blew the window in, but by a miracle the double glazing held and knocked them off their feet.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Carth

I can see the excuses being rolled out now . . "We didn't want to risk moving it, and it falling into the wrong hands"

I'll guarantee you one thing, it'll be the little man that cops it.

[Hom3r]

The crater is 43m deep, about 141ft.


That is one hellva big hole.

Given the size of the explosion, I surprised its only 14 feet.

[mrmistoffelees]

The entire Lebanese government has resigned.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

The entire Lebanese government has resigned.

The honourable thing to do. Hope the mechanisms are in place for the business of government to continue until a new one is in place.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

The honourable thing to do.

Why ?
Did they cause the explosion ?

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Paul

Why ?
Did they cause the explosion ?

By all accounts they to a degree, facilitated it

I seriously doubt anyone in their current government had anything to do with it.

From the accounts Ive seen, it was dumped there 6 years ago, with nothing more than the occasional request to a judge for permission to do something with it.