Beirut blaze alarms residents a month after blast
A large fire erupted at Beirut port on Thursday (September 10), engulfing parts of the Lebanese capital in a pall of smoke.
It came just weeks after a massive blast devastated the port and surrounding residential area.
The blaze began in the shattered duty free zone of the port, prompting some residents to flee the city still traumatized by last month's explosion which followed a port fire.
"For sure we are scared because it took us back, it's only been a month since the explosion that destroyed Beirut. We saw the same thing happening again...we are definitely scared and people are freaking out."
Army helicopters dropped water on the fire, as firefighters battled the blaze on the ground.
There were no immediate reports of injuries but the blaze strained nerves already on edge.
A minister in the outgoing government told Lebanon's MTV the fire had been brought under control, saying initial indications suggested the blaze was sparked by repair work at the port.
A military source said it appeared to have started when cooking oil caught fire and spread to stores of tires.
The August 4th blast killed about 190 people and injured 6,000.
