It was not immediately clear what caused the fire at the facility, which was decimated by an explosion on 4 August when nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrates detonated at the port.
Decades of governmental malfeasance and the explosion — the biggest peacetime catastrophe in the nation’s history — have resulted in the current outpouring of public anger.
The cause of the Beirut port explosion was ammonium nitrate from a ship abandoned in 2013. Hazardous material is shipped across the world daily — often illegally.
In episode 542 of #CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta talks about what led to catastrophic blast in Beirut and how this makes Lebanon's political and economic crisis more messy.
The explosion in Beirut couldn’t have come at a worse time for Lebanon, which is enduring its deepest political and financial crisis since the 15-year civil war ended in 1990.
While ammonium nitrate does not combust on its own, it can explode if contaminated by a flammable substance like oil, or if it comes in contact with fire.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has nothing to fear from the state but it won't escape public opprobrium. Most will assume the chemicals belonged to it, for use in Syria and against Israel.
Fear of money falling into the hands of Hezbollah has kept the Gulf Arab states from bailing Lebanon out of its current economic crisis, as they have in the past.
Countering insurgency needs the Pakistan Army to demonstrate a political will that ties leaders at the centre with those in the borderlands. But it may not have the imagination.
Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.
21st edition of annual joint military exercise will be held from 1 to 16 September, aimed at sharing military tech, operational best practices & disaster relief coordination methods.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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