Fire Breaks out in Central Beirut’s Commercial District

Lebanese media reported that a fire broke out in in central Beirut’s commercial district today, Tuesday.

Later, civil defence official George Abou Moussa told Reuters that the fire has been extinguished.

Lebanese broadcaster al-Jadeed reported that the fire erupted in a landmark building designed by the British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.

The building has been under construction for years and was close to completion.

It is worth mentioning that, about 190 people were killed in last month’s explosion (4th August) and a swathe of Beirut near the port was ruined.

The blast was caused by a huge store of ammonium nitrate that had been kept at the port in poor condition for years.

The explosion of a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate fertiliser in the port of Beirut also injured at least 6,500 people and left tens of thousands more homeless, piling new misery on the city after months of economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.

“As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, it is more critical than ever to ensure that children and families whose lives were turned upside down by the explosion have access to safe water and sanitation,” said UNICEF Lebanon Representative Yukie Mokuo.