Huge blaze breaks out at site of explosion in Beirut

A huge fire has broken out in Beirut’s port, at the site of a deadly explosion that killed nearly 200 people last month, The Independent reported a short while ago.

It said video images show a large column of black smoke billowing into the sky over the Lebanese capital.  

Port workers, filming the tower of flames and black smoke above the port, could be seen running from the area in panic.

The Lebanese army said that a “warehouse of oil and tyres” in Beirut Port’s Free Zone had caught fire and they had joined efforts to extinguish the blaze, including drafting in helicopters.

Helicopters carrying buckets of water were seen flying across the city.

Local media reported that the army was starting to evacuate people nearby. Panicked citizens in the surrounding areas began getting in their cars, saying they would leave Beirut.

Michel el-Murr, the head of the fire department search and rescue team, who was at the scene fighting the fire, has told The Independent that they had called for back up.

“We don’t own exactly what is burning, we are trying to put out the fire but it is too big, we need a mix of water and foam. We have asked for support, we need the civil defence, and all the fire department crews here now,” he added.