Lebanese army removing tonnes of ammonium nitrate from Beirut port

A month on from a devastating explosion caused by the same chemical, the military said it has found more at the port

• 

  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

• 

  The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National

• 

  The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP

• 

  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

• 

  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

• 

  People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP

• 

  The scene of the blast 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 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

• 

  Smoke rises after the explosion was heard 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

• 

  The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou

• 

  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 blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National

• 

  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

• 

  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

• 

  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

• 

  A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images

• 

  Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters

• 

  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

• 

  Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP

The Lebanese army has found 4.35 tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate near the entrance to the shattered Beirut port a month on from a huge explosion caused by the same chemical.

The military said on Thursday that army engineers were called in to inspect four containers at the port and discovered the ammonium nitrate. They were then “dealing with it” the military said but gave no further details of the find.

On August 4, over 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored for the last 6 years at Beirut port blew up, damaging at least half the city, killing over 190 people and wounding over 6,500.

The blast smashed entire neighbourhoods, gutting buildings.

Lebanon's government quit amid public anger in a nation already brought to its knees by an economic crisis. The public remains anxious that more hazardous materials are being stored badly, putting them at risk.

Earlier on Thursday, President Michel Aoun ordered repairs to be made to old refuelling infrastructure at Beirut airport and called for an investigation into a report that thousands of litres of fuel had leaked from the system.

Beirut airport head Fadi El Hassan told a news conference that a leak of 84,000 litres of fuel had occurred in March 2019 and repairs were completed in two months. He said international investigators had described the repairs as "satisfactory".

News of the leak added to concerns about public safety. "No explosion is awaiting us," Mr El Hassan told the news conference.