Negligence probed in deadly Beirut blast amid public anger

Investigators probing dely blast that ripped across Beirut have focused on possible negligence in stor of tons of a highly explosive fertilizer in a waterfront warehouse, while government ordered house arrest of several port officials. International aid flights began to arrive as Leban's leers struggled to deal with widespre dam and shocking aftermath of Tuesday's blast, which Health Ministry said killed 135 people and injured about 5,000 ors.

Public anger mounted against ruling elite that is being blamed for chronic mismanment and carelessness that led to disaster. Port of Beirut and customs office is torious for being one of most corrupt and lucrative institutions in Leban where various factions and politicians, including Hezbollah, hold sway.

investigation is focusing on how 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilizers, came to be stored at facility for six years, and why thing was done about it. Losses from blast are estimated to be between USD 10 billion to USD 15 billion, Beirut Gov. Marwan Abboud told Saudi-owned TV station Al-Hath, ding that nearly 300,000 people are homeless.

“Beirut as we kw it is gone and people won't be able to rebuild ir lives,” said Amy, a woman who swept glass from a small alley beside by a tall building that served as a showroom for a famous Lebanese designer and was a neighbourhood landmark.

“This is hell. How are y (people) going to survive. What are y going to do?” she said, blaming officials for lack of responsibility and “stupidity.”

Hospitals were overwhelmed by injured. One that was damd in blast h to evacuate all its patients to a nearby field for treatment. It was worst single explosion to strike Leban, a country whose history is filled with destruction — from a 1975-1990 civil war, conflicts with Israel and periodic terrorist attacks.

Leban alrey was on brink of collapse amid a severe ecomic crisis and coronavirus pandemic. Many have lost ir jobs and seen ir savings evaporate because of a currency crisis. Food security is a worry, since country imports nearly all its vital goods and its main port is w devastated. government is strapped for cash.

A senior U.S. Defense Department official and member of U.S. intelligence community said re were indications explosion was result of an attack by eir a nation state or proxy forces. Both spoke to Associated Press on condition of anymity because y were t authorised to discuss intelligence briefings publicly. y told AP that at moment, explosion seems to have been caused by improper stor of explosives.

Fueling speculation that negligence was to blame for accident, an official letter circulating online showed he of customs department h warned repeatedly over years that huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored in port was a danger and h asked judicial officials for a ruling on a way to remove it.

he of customs department Bri Daher confirmed to local LBC TV channel that re were five or six such letters to judiciary. He said his predecessor also pleed with judiciary to issue orders to export explosive materials “because of how dangerous y are” to port and staff re.

Daher said it was his duty to “alert” authorities of dangers but that is most he could do. “I am t a technical expert.” Ammonium nitrate is a component of fertilizer that is potentially explosive. 2,750-ton cargo h been stored at port since it was confiscated from a ship in 2013, and on Tuesday it is believed to have detonated after a fire broke out nearby.

2017 letter from customs chief to a judge could t be immediately confirmed, but state prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat ordered security ncies to start an immediate investigation into all letters related to materials stored at port, as well as lists of those in charge of maintenance, stor and protection of hangar.

In letter, customs chief warned of “dangers if materials remain where y are, affecting safety of (port) employees” and asked judge for guidance. He said five similar letters were sent in 2014, 2015 and 2016. letter proposes material be exported or sold to a Lebanese explosives company. It is t kwn if re was a response. President Michael Aoun vowed before a Cabinet meeting that investigation would be transparent and that those responsible will be punished.

“re are words to describe catastrophe that hit Beirut last night,” he said.

After meeting, Cabinet ordered an unspecified number of Beirut port officials put under house arrest pending investigation. government also said public schools and some hotels will be opened for homeless and promised unspecified compensation for victims. With Port of Beirut destroyed, government said imports and exports will be secured elsewhere, mostly in rrn city of Tripoli and sourn port of Tyre.

re were signs that public anger went beyond port officials to Leban's long-entrenched ruling class. Political factions have divided control of public institutions, including port, using m to benefit ir supporters, with little actual development. That has translated into crumbling infrastructure, power outs and poor services.