• A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
    A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
  • Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
  • The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
    A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
  • The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
    A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
  • Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
    Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
  • Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
    Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
  • Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
    Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
  • People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
    People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
  • The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
    The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
  • Army personnel around entrance to port.
    Army personnel around entrance to port.
  • The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
    The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
  • Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
    Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
  • A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
    A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
  • Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
    Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
  • People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
    People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
  • An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
    An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
  • Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
    Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
  • A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
    A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
  • Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
    Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
  • Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
    Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
  • People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
    People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
  • Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
    Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP

French expert: Dangerous chemicals remain in Beirut port

Chemical experts and firefighters are working to secure at least 20 potentially dangerous chemical containers at the explosion-shattered port of Beirut

Associated Press

August 11, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Chemical experts and firefighters are working to secure at least 20 potentially dangerous chemical containers at the explosion-shattered port of Beirut, after finding one that was leaking, according to a member of a French cleanup team.

Some of the containers were punctured when last week’s deadly blast ripped through the port and the Lebanese capital, said Lt Anthony, a French chemical expert at the site who was not authorised to be identified by his full name.

French and Italian chemical experts working amid the remains of the port have so far identified more than 20 containers carrying dangerous chemicals, Lt Anthony said.

“We noted the presence of containers with the chemical danger symbol. And then noted that one of the containers was leaking,” he told the Associated Press in a TV interview on Monday.

The experts are working with Lebanese firefighters to secure all of the containers and analyse their contents, he said. “We need to clean everything and put all in security.”

He didn’t identify what chemicals were involved or provide further details. Lebanese officials have not commented on the potential chemical risks at the port.

“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,” Lt Anthony said, describing huge containers tossed around the port by the powerful force of the blast.

It is unclear whether there could be additional potentially dangerous containers in other zones of the port. The French and Italian experts were assigned to a specific zone to examine and secure that section, Lt Anthony said.

The explosion last Tuesday in the port killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others. It is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a 2,750-tonne stockpile of highly volatile ammonium nitrate. The material had been stored at the port since 2013 with few safeguards despite numerous warnings of the danger.

The chemical experts are among scores of French emergency workers who arrived to help search for bodies, aid the sick and clean up after the blast. Nearly 50 French police are also in Beirut helping investigate what happened.