Officials from the Port of Beirut have been arrested in connection with the large explosion which decimated the port and much of the surrounding area leading to the loss of over 135 lives, wounding 4000, and leaving up to 300,000 unable to return home.
The individuals that have been arrested are those who had direct responsibility for monitoring and storing the chemical substances that are believed to have been responsible for the blast. The move came after significant pressure from citizens and the media over allegations of negligence, incompetence, and corruption.
The Director of the port and employees of customs have told the media that they had asked the authorities to remove the chemicals from the area on several occasions but it never happened. The 2.750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were confiscated from a ship owned by Russian businessman in 2014.
Amnesty International has called for an international investigation to take place into the blast. Secretary General Julie Verhaar said in a press release that she believes an international investigation is needed to be free from any political interference or influence.
The organisation also called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid to Lebanon at a time when the country is in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic crisis.
The death toll at the time of writing is in the region of 135 people. The search is continuing to find survivors and missing people, still buried under the rubble.
A large grain silo was destroyed during the explosion, containing over 80% of the country’s grain reserves. Lebanese authorities said they have enough grain left to last less than a month, posing a huge risk to the population, including 1.5 million Syrian refugees that are living there.
