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At that time, rescuers at the epicenter of the disaster desperately continued their search for people who might survive in the ruins.
The Lebanese rulers have again been the subject of a barrage of criticism for an explosion that occurred on Tuesday, killing at least 154 people and devastating large areas of the capital.
When it turned out that a huge load of dangerous ammonium nitrate fertilizer had been in a warehouse in the very center of the capital for years, many Lebanese were shocked and dismayed by the political system.
Even Lebanese President Michel Aoun admitted on Friday that the “paralyzed” system must be “revised.”
“We need to change and review our consensus-based system because it is seen to be paralyzed and unable to implement decisions quickly,” Aoun told reporters.
He promised to “do justice quickly” but rejected loud calls for an international investigation. As one head of state told a journalist, this would be an attempt to “distort the truth.”
“There are two possible scenarios: it was negligence or foreign interference using a rocket or a bomb,” the president said, becoming the first Lebanese official to mention the possibility that the port had been attacked.
It’s unclear why 2,750 tonnes of fertilizer were detonated, but authorities said repairs to the warehouse had recently begun and the fireworks may have been stored in or near the same location.
Near the epicenter of the blast, near the port’s huge grain depots, rescue teams from France, Germany and Italy conducted coordinated searches.
Four bodies were found near a port checkpoint where several people were to be employed during the blast. No survivors were found there.
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