Post No 43. Massive explosion in Beirut. 

The massive explosion on last Tuesday August 4th in Beirut has left much of the city destroyed and about at least 150 casualties ,5000 or more injured and about 300,000 left homeless.  The death toll is likely to rise. The cause has been not been determined and the leading version is the explosion of about 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compost that is used as fertilizer but also as an ingredient in explosives.

The material arrived at Beirut in 2013 in a Russian – owned cargo ship and reports says it was bound for Mozambique. The material was impounded and unloaded due to a legal dispute over port fees and the shipping company was in debt. In 2015 public demonstrations claimed corruption and infighting over solid waste contracts. Since the blast, some port officials have been placed under house arrest.  It is possible that the real cause was a series of acts of neglect on massive scale.  An investigative committee to find the cause of the blast have been formed. There is much to investigate  as new details emerges in this sad tragedy.

Reference:

Beirut explosion. How the blast would have impacted Canadian Cities. Time: 1:14:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozn6myclEE0

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