General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKnow her name. This is Sahar Fares. She was a Lebanese female firefighter. 25 years old.
Link to tweet
Jenan Moussa @jenanmoussa
Know her name. This is Sahar Fares. She was a Lebanese female firefighter. 25 years old. She was one of the first responders at #Beirut port. She died along with her colleagues trying to extinguish the fire. Her burial is today. RIP Sahar 💔
5:28 AM · Aug 6, 2020
Link to tweet
Jenan Moussa @jenanmoussa
Goodbye our heroes. May you rest in peace. The whole nation is crying you. This shouldn't have happened. #Beirut
5:44 AM · Aug 6, 2020
secondwind
(16,903 posts)and it could have been prevented!!!
BlueMTexpat
(15,349 posts)and its history: https://theconversation.com/the-port-of-beirut-vital-historic-centre-of-a-complex-city-144022
From the link:
The blast, in the early evening of August 4, has been reported as having the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake and is believed to have been fuelled by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the port.
While post-civil war Lebanons economy, infrastructure and basic services are already on their knees due to an unprecedented economic crisis, widespread public protest about believed government corruption and recently the COVID-19 pandemic, another portion of Lebanons crucial national infrastructure now lies in ruins. The port of Beirut handles 60% of Lebanons imports as well as the storage of its food and medical reserves.
The history of a port at Beirut stretches back to as far as the 15th century BC. In the 20th century, Beirut became a key seaport serving the oil trade and related passenger and cargo movements in the Levant and the Gulf.
The port has played a key role in Beiruts history and stands at the centre of the city, surrounded by some of its most important neighbourhoods.
...
OhNo-Really
(3,985 posts)Thousands injured. Many have died. Port, ships, blocks of High rise buildings damaged.
Truly horrific.
Link to tweet
Why was almost 3000 tons of such a dangerous explosive allowed to be stored at the port? Who sanctioned that? How long has it been sitting there? Who hired the welders to work on the roof? Did they know they were working above a HUGE explosion if they were not careful?
BlueMTexpat
(15,349 posts)to be asked.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)JI7
(89,182 posts)such as terrorists, foreign enemies etc.
But it's often our own shit governments that fail the people the most . And he brought up our own situation with trump.
mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)Watching Chernobyl I was constantly reminded of how corrupt and incompetent our government is right now. Gorbachev and scientists saved them, but just barely.
OhNo-Really
(3,985 posts)But thebUS bombed Gaddafinthe night before our flight. We decided to cancel, too close to Libya
Had we gone in our trip, we would have been nuked by Chernobyl. Angel is had to bury all crops and slaughter livestock As did even UK if I remember correctly
A strange month of history
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)at the warehouse a bit before that big explosion:
Link to tweet
Text:
Footage of the initial fire at Beirut port yesterday shortly before the massive explosion
From Jaras Scoop FM
5:51 AM · Aug 5, 2020
Note how the heavy black smoke propagates down the roof line fairly quickly as time passes.
As a former firefighter, this appears to me to be a very hot "cooking" fire in which explosive gasses build up inside a closed structure from decomposition of materials inside, including wood and plastics. We were warned to watch carefully for the warning signs because opening up a stucture under those conditions lets oxygen in suddenly, usually resulting in a massive explosion. An investigation will reveal the true sequence of events, but that could have been the initial explosion prior to the big one.
KY.......
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)usaf-vet
(6,094 posts)NoMoreRepugs
(9,260 posts)wendyb-NC
(3,250 posts)my heart goes out to their and their loved ones. R.I.P. Sahar, and all your fellow heroes. , ...
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Aristus
(66,096 posts)crickets
(25,896 posts)My heart goes out to everyone in Beirut.