1 Dead, 3 Hurt as Fireworks Spark Blaze near Martyrs Square
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
One person was killed and three others were injured on Thursday in a major blaze triggered by fireworks at Beirut's Martyrs Square near the headquarters of An Nahar newspaper, state-run National News Agency reported.
Earlier, a loud blast was heard during a live report broadcast by OTV from the location and the camera captured the scene of several cars that went up in flames at a parking lot.
Firefighting vehicles quickly scrambled to the scene from the nearby headquarters of the Beirut Fire Department and started dousing the flames.
Less than an hour before the incident, a mass popular rally was held at Martyrs Square in celebration of the 68th Army Day. It was not immediately clear, however, if the fireworks were linked to the event.
Later on Thursday, the National News Agency said several people were injured when the fireworks they brought to celebrate Army Day accidentally exploded. It described the group's move as a “personal initiative” that was not linked to the organizers of the Martyrs Square's rally.
01 August 2013, 21:40
26
Who are the idiots still using fireworks to celebrate? It seems that everything and anything in Lebanon is reason enough to bring out the big guns, real or imagined. Getting married, getting killed, getting interred, passing an exam, having a party, celebrating a holiday (religious or otherwise) do not give anyone the right to keep me permanently nervous, keep my elderly parents awake or my young children terrorized. Find a different way to celebrate and allow us the rare luxury to relax in a country where relaxation is a rare commodity.
02 August 2013, 01:15
10
The Army day is an invention of the era of Syrian occupation and it is not only absolute nonsense and idiocy, but it is also a criminally inspired smokescreen to present the Army's sacrifices (in fact always the youngest and the worst paid soldiers) as a testimony to its heroism while the blood of young soldiers and the tears of their mothers should be presented as invoices to the "political class" perpetuating eternal disorder, impunity and corruption in Lebanon. Shame.
02 August 2013, 01:19
04
Bande d'ecervelés et demeurés.
Weapons and fireworks should only be in the hands of the State. Fireworks should be managed by the municipality of Beirut in this case.
Lebanon is hopeless....
02 August 2013, 01:22
10
The Army day is an invention of the era of Syrian occupation and it is not only absolute nonsense and idiocy, but it is also a criminally inspired smokescreen to present the Army's sacrifices (in fact always the youngest and the worst paid soldiers) as a testimony to its heroism while the blood of young soldiers and the tears of their mothers should be presented as invoices to the "political class" perpetuating eternal disorder, impunity and corruption in Lebanon. Shame.
02 August 2013, 03:20
13
What's with the Lebanese and stupid fireworks. Everything is fireworks. I bet this was an Israeli conspiracy. Hassan Nasrallah will mention that this is an Israeli/US plot to have messed around with the fireworks so that this would happen. lol
02 August 2013, 15:21
00
Never underestimate the stupidity of nawwar and wazawiz, especially in large groups in this country. Shameful and sad for the injured and dead.
