2023-06-03 22:50:42
The Lebanese security authorities opened an investigation, on Saturday, following news of an explosion in one of the quarries in the Zahle region in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, which led to an earthquake measuring 3 degrees on the Richter scale.
The Lebanese in the Zahle and Bekaa regions felt an earthquake on Saturday followingnoon, preceded by the sound of a strong explosion, according to the testimonies of a large number of citizens.
Later, officials at the Lebanese National Center for Geophysics confirmed that the strength of the tremor reached 3 degrees on the Richter scale, and was preceded by a strong bang.
More than just a shake
It turned out later that the strong sound that the residents spoke of prior to the earthquake, was caused by an explosion that occurred in one of the quarries in the Zahle region of a large wall of rocks.
And local Lebanese media said, “After examining the place, it became clear that the explosion was caused by the use of large quantities of explosive materials that were inserted deep into the ground.”
The news sparked a wave of anger on social media and among Lebanese public opinion, as many considered that the absence of accountability and the spread of corruption is leading the country to more disasters at the expense of people’s health and safety.
Commenting on the news of the explosion that caused an earthquake, seismologist Tony Nemer said, “Today’s earthquake in the outskirts of Zahle is suspicious, similar to the tremor that occurred on the sixth of last May in the Upper Keserwan region of Mount Lebanon, which occurred in the Ksarat area.”
An earthquake occurred in the Keserwan region of Mount Lebanon on the sixth of last May, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, followed by a second tremor measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale.
Many said that the causes of this tremor are “suspicious” and may be related to the explosions that occur in the quarries in the Keserwan region.
Nimr called on the security forces to take the matter seriously to verify the causes of these tremors and stop them, “especially if they were caused by explosions,” adding that “such actions may trigger earthquakes with unimaginable consequences.”
Explosion of rocks on a seismic fault!
One of the journalists was able to publish a picture of the blast site in the crusher, talking regarding explosives used to detonate and fragment rocks in order to sell them.
According to Nimr, the photos show “a natural wall of rock, which is a visible part of a large fault in the region, which is probably the Yammouneh seismic fault that passes through Lebanon.”
Nimr warned once morest “carrying out any explosions in such places, because the matter is of exceptional danger in terms of inducing earthquakes.”
In turn, Minister of Environment Nasser Yassin said: “We issued a decision to close this quarry some time ago, and there is a judicial indication from the Environmental Prosecutor in the Bekaa to seal it with red wax.”
Yassin confirmed that he is following up the file with the Public Prosecutor and security officials to investigate the matter.
Late move of the security forces
Late on Saturday evening, and following a great controversy sparked by the incident, the Bekaa Region Command of the Internal Security Forces opened an investigation report to show whether there had been an explosion in the Twity quarries in the Zahle district, according to the Lebanese News Agency.
The Lebanese Army Intelligence is implementing a security cordon around the quarries in the Tuwaiti locality, while awaiting the presence of an explosives expert to inspect the place.
Journalists responded on social media that “these moves came late as usual, especially since the owners of the quarries continue their illegal actions without any accountability. The recurrence of these incidents would expose the Lebanese to a real and devastating disaster.”
The Lebanese live in fear
The Lebanese are afraid of the possibility of a strong earthquake or earthquake in their country, which is located in a sensitive seismic area in the region, especially following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and northern Syria last February.
Despite the issuance of several circulars urging them to be regulated, the owners of quarries in Lebanon continue their work in several areas without accountability or oversight, and in a manner that violates the minimum safety and environmental standards.
There are many quarries in the mountains in Lebanon, where huge mechanisms plunder the green spaces and mountains.
Many say that the owners of the crushers are protected from influential people and politicians in the country.
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