Anger Mounts in Lebanon Amid Mourning for Blast Victims

Lebanon mourned the victims of the most powerful blast to hit the country that was already being crushed by an economic crisis, as rescuers continued searching for those missing since the explosion that flattened Beirut port and devastated the city. Anger is growing in the city over the government’s slow response to the disaster, amid accusations of its failure to prevent the explosion even though the threat from a huge stockpile of chemicals at the port was reportedly known for years. French President Emmanuel Macron, making the first visit by a foreign leader since Tuesday’s blast which killed at least 145 people and injured 5000, arrived in Beirut on Thursday along with specialist rescue personnel and equipment. Mr Macron told angry crowds in central Beirut that he wanted to lead a global response and would seek a new deal with the political authorities.

He toured the city’s shattered streets with crowds demanding the end to a “regime” of politicians they blame for corruption and dragging Lebanon, a former French colony, into disaster.

“I see the emotion on your face, the sadness, the pain. This is why I’m here,” he told one group, shaking their hands on roads strewn with rubble and flanked by shops with windows blown out. Mr Macron, wearing a black tie in mourning and flanked by security guards, promised to send more medical and other aid to Lebanon, while those around him chanted “Revolution” and “The people want the fall of the regime”.

“But what is also needed here is political change. This explosion should be the start of a new era,” Mr Macron added.

Other nations have also sent in search and rescue teams and medical aid and equipment. Dozens of people remain missing and up to a quarter of a million people are left homeless after shockwaves from the blast smashed building facades, sucked furniture out into streets and shattered windows far inland.

Officials expect the death toll to rise.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab had declared three days of mourning for victims of the explosion, the most devastating ever to hit the city that was still scarred by a civil war from three decades ago and reeling from a surge in coronavirus cases.