Environment / Conflict

Anger in Beirut at news explosion could have been prevented

17:25 pm on 6 August 2020

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In Beirut anger is building after officials admitted yesterday's catastrophic port explosion could have been prevented.

As the capital continues to smoulder, an email trail has described the more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate as a 'floating bomb', with an inspection six months ago of the warehouse indicating it had the potential to 'blow up the city' if it wasn't removed.

And as Bridget Burke reports, with the numbers of dead, injured and missing continuing to rise, an investigation is now underway into years of inaction and negligence.