Beirut fire: large fire breaks out in port area, month after explosion

A large fire has broken out in the port of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, a month after a massive explosion killed more than 190 people.

The fire broke out in an oil and tire depot in the port’s free zone. Officials told local media that it was contained in one place.

Smoke could be seen billowing over the city skyline.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. So far no victims have been reported.

Firefighters are on the scene and the military said its helicopters were being used in an effort to extinguish the blaze.

Images shared on social media showed port workers fleeing when the fire broke out.

The head of the Lebanese Red Cross, George Kettaneh, said that some people suffered from shortness of breath, but there were no reports of injuries, according to the Reuters news agency.

Mr. Kettaneh also said that there was no fear of an explosion as a result of the fire.

Civil Defense Director General Raymond Khattar said the area around the fire had been completely cordoned off to prevent the fire from spreading.

“Those who work on extinguishing the fire will not leave the premises until the flames are completely extinguished,” he told the state’s National News Agency.

The port director, Bassem al-Qaisi, told Voice of Lebanon radio station that the fire started in a warehouse where barrels of cooking oil were stored and then spread to nearby tires.

“It’s too early to tell if it’s the result of the heat or some other mistake,” he said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite assurances that the situation was under control, some residents, still traumatized by last month’s explosion, left the city.

“I am forced to get them out of Beirut from the smoke and fire that is happening in the port again,” Majed Hassanein, who was leaving with his wife and children, told Reuters.

Others described how the fire brought back memories of the explosion.

“I still feel the earth shaking. I’m experiencing a flashback,” Dana Awad told the Associated Press news agency.

The August 4 explosion occurred when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate detonated. There has been outrage that so much hazardous material has been stored insecurely in a warehouse in the city’s port, near many residential areas.

In addition to the deaths, thousands were injured and up to 300,000 were left homeless by the blast.

The resignation of the Lebanese government shortly after failed to pacify the protesters, who clashed with the police in the city for several nights.