The Lebanese authorities have named several possible causes of the explosion in the port of Beirut
In the port of Beirut was able to explode the warehouse of confiscated explosive materials, or storage of ammonium nitrate (saltpeter). These assumptions were expressed by the representatives of the Lebanese authorities, reports the Arabic TV channel Al Mayadeen.
So, the version of explosion of a warehouse of confiscated explosives was expressed by the head of the Directorate of General security of Lebanon Abbas Ibrahim, noting that this is not the final hypothesis of the investigation. Via the data channel, the warehouse contained about 50 tonnes of explosives that was seized nine years ago (what kind of explosive it is, is not specified).
Source Al Mayadeen said that four months ago the authorities had prepared a report on the storage of explosives, which pointed to the potential danger if substances will continue to be stored at the port. The source said that no reaction to the report was not followed.
In turn, the head of customs of Lebanon suggested that the port could have blown up the warehouse with nitrate.
Al Mayadeen shortly after the incident reported that the explosion occurred in a warehouse where they keep the gasoline.
At the same time, the Minister of internal Affairs of Lebanon, Mohammed Fahmy urged to wait for the official results of the investigation and not to speculate.
A powerful explosion in the port of Beirut occurred on the evening of 4 August. Close to the port areas of Lebanon’s capital damaged or destroyed many buildings. Reuters wrote, citing eyewitnesses that the explosion was of such force that it felt even residents of the capital Nicosia, which is located almost 200 km from Beirut.
According to the latest data, the explosion killed at least 73 people, more than 3 thousand were injured.