Special unit works on chemicals at Beirut blast site

A French emergency unit specialising in chemicals was on Monday securing an area of Beiut's port and identifying potential leaks from shipping containers that sustained heavy damage in last week's massive blast.

The unit's main task is to identify and separate containers with chemical products as quickly as possible, one French officer said.

"The risk is a flammable one because the liquid is leaking as there are also other flammable liquids in other containers, there are also batteries, or other kinds of products which could increase the risk of potential explosion," said Lieutenant Anthony, who did not give his last name.

So far, the team has identified more than 20 potentially dangerous containers and is working on securing them with the help of Lebanese firefighters.

The chemical specialists were among the 63 aid workers sent by France immediately following the blast.

The explosion, centered at Beirut port, is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a 2,750-ton stockpile of explosive ammonium nitrate.

The material had been stored at the port since 2013 with few safeguards despite numerous warnings of the danger.

The result was a disaster Lebanese blame squarely on their leadership's corruption and neglect.

The blast killed at least 160 people and wounded about 6,000, in addition to destroying the country's main port and damaging large parts of the capital.

Losses from the blast are estimated to be between $10 billion to $15 billion, and nearly 300,000 people were left homeless in the immediate aftermath.

(Representative Image)