Some 60 historic buildings in Beirut are at risk of collapsing following last week’s devastating port explosion, Lebanese officials have warned, as the UN’s cultural agency promises to lead the international campaign to restore and restore Beirut’s heritage.
At least 8,000 buildings, many concentrated in the historic districts of Gemayzeh and Mar Mikhael, were hit, said Sarkis Khoury, director general of antiquities at Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture, according to Unesco. Among them are 640 historic buildings, about 60 of which were at risk of collapse, he said.
Also affected was in the eastern district of Beirut of Achrafieh, where the landmark Sursock Museum is located. Other districts that include the National Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut were also damaged, Unesco said. Damaged structures also included art galleries and religious sites.
On August 4, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, stored in the port of Beirut, blew out and destroyed the city’s main commercial hub and damaged large swathes of the Lebanese capital. The blast, the most devastating in the country’s troubled history, killed more than 170 people, injured more than 6,000 and caused damage of $ 10bn- $ 15bn.
The FBI will join Lebanese, French and other international investigators in the investigation after being invited by Lebanese authorities.
Lebanese officials on Thursday agreed to appoint a judicial investigator to lead the investigation under the auspices of the Supreme Judicial Council, which deals with crimes that infringe on the country’s national security, such as political and state security.
The most affected areas were Gemayzeh and Mar Mikhael, which overlook the harbor and are known for their active nightlife, with many old buildings transformed into pubs or restaurants.
“Following this tragedy, the international community has sent a strong signal of support to Lebanon,” said Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, UNESCO’s Deputy Director – General for Culture. “Unesco is leading the way in the field of culture, which should play an important part in broader reconstruction and recovery efforts.”
There have been concerns in Lebanon for years about historic buildings being sold and then demolished to be replaced by high-rise ones. There have been reports in recent days that middlemen have been in contact with owners of damaged historic buildings and are offering high prices to buy their property.
Ghazi Wazni, the Prime Minister of Finance, issued a decree on Wednesday preventing the sale of any historic building without the permission of the Ministry of Culture. The move is intended to prevent any “exploitation”, the finance ministry said.
Abbas Murtada, the caretaker minister of culture, said on Thursday that his ministry was working to prevent exploitation by businessmen adding that the restoration of the damaged historic buildings was estimated to cost about $ 300 million. He added that teams from his ministry were developing plans to renovate the buildings.
The World Bank said in a preliminary assessment that about 50,000 housing units were damaged and 80% of housing and infrastructure were affected by the blast, excluding the destruction to the port.
An earlier estimate by Beirut mayor Marwan Abboud said the blast caused $ 10 billion – $ 15 billion in damage, leaving nearly 300,000 people homeless.
On Thursday, the Lebanese parliament approved a state of emergency in Beirut in its first session since the explosion, giving the military sweeping forces amid growing popular anger over official corruption and mismanagement and political uncertainty.
The disaster has sparked popular anger against Lebanon’s leaders to a new level as the country faces an unusual economic and financial crisis, along with the coronavirus pandemic.
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