Portion of grain silos collapse at Beirut port ahead of 2nd anniversary of explosion

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A portion of the grain silos at the Beirut port collapsed on Sunday, just a day before the second anniversary of the massive explosion on Aug. 4, 2020 that killed more than 215 people.

A fire had been burning at the port for approximately three weeks prior to the collapse and residents say it has reignited the trauma they felt in the wake of the deadly explosion.

The 2020 blast, fueled by a large chemical store that had been kept at the port for nearly seven years, wounded thousands of people and gutted the eastern part of the city, leaving thousands more homeless.

“My heart is burning when I see the fire at the port. They are taking us back to the day of the crime. At the same time, we don’t want the silos gone because those silos are the only witness that was present the day of the blast,” said Mona Jawish, whose daughter was killed the day of the blast.

Officials say the fire at the silos was difficult to extinguish and occurred naturally as a result of wheat fermenting and igniting.