The General Directorate of Civil Defense issued the following statement: On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the General Directorate of Civil Defense received a phone call requesting the deployment of units to extinguish a fire in the vicinity of the silos inside the Port of Beirut. This General Directorate wishes to clarify the following:
First: This fire originated from emissions resulting from the fermentation of materials present around the silos due to the catastrophic explosion that occurred in the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. These materials are unknown due to the lack of identification of the types of chemical substances that settled as a result, leading to new and complex chemical processes due to the mixing of emitted gases with other gases present in the air.
Second: Any intervention to extinguish the mentioned fire, whether by water or extinguishing materials, will only postpone the problem for a few days before the fire and smoke return to produce new effects that could lead to potentially more serious damages.
Third: In the framework of monitoring and follow-up, consultations were held with the Beirut Fire Brigade and subsequently with two experts monitoring the situation around the silos. The first is Swiss national Emmanuel Derande, who warned of the dangers of approaching the monitored area using sensors that were installed after the explosion for continued observation. The second is fire expert Francois Poichotte, a French national, who confirmed that this fire has recurred in the past and cannot be completely controlled because attempts to extinguish it with any liquid would lead to new fermentation, resulting in gases that would soon ignite again due to rising temperatures.
Fourth: The Minister of Public Works and Transport previously prohibited approaching the area of the silos, along with similar measures taken by the Lebanese Army to avoid any loss of life, given the dangerous situation in its vicinity. Any decision related to that area remains with the ministerial committee formed after the tragic explosion, necessitating a letter sent this morning, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from the General Directorate of Civil Defense to the committee through the Minister of Interior and Municipalities to make an appropriate decision.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense, while reiterating its commitment to the safety of all citizens, emphasizes the readiness of its units for rapid intervention despite limited resources. It upholds the highest standards of scientific precision in dealing with this type of fire to ensure the safety of its personnel, whether employees or volunteers, and to prevent any unforeseen complications. It also hopes for everyone’s understanding of the delicate situation that requires the highest degree of coordination among the relevant parties, which is currently taking place without delay.
