A large section of Beirut’s giant port grain silos, shredded by a massive explosion two years ago, collapsed on Thursday as hundreds marched to mark the second anniversary of the blast that killed scores
The northern block of the silos consisting of four towers has been slowly tilting for days and collapsed causing a huge cloud of dust that covered the structure. The silos had shielded Beirut’s western neighborhoods when the blast occurred on Aug. 4, 2020 killing nearly 220 people, wounding over 6,000 and causing damage worth billions of dollars.
The collapse occurred an hour before hundreds of people were to gather outside the facility to mark the 2nd anniversary of the blast.
Authorities evacuated parts of the port earlier this week as a precautionary measure and there was no indication that anyone was hurt.
Also watch: US declares monkeypox a public health emergency
The 50 year-old, 48 meter (157 feet) tall silos had withstood the force of the explosion two years ago that destroyed much of the port.
Many in Lebanon, including families of the victims, have been demanding that the silos be kept for future generations to witness the result of one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history caused by widespread corruption and mismanagement in the small Mediterranean nation.