BEIRUT (LEBANON) – On Friday, rescue workers in Beirut dug through the debris of a building which collapsed in the devastating blast last month after signs of life were detected under the pile of rubble.
Workers pulled up blocks of concrete and masonry as they dug in the district of Gemmayze after detecting signs of a pulse and breathing on Thursday.
Later, a crane was brought to the site to remove the steel girders and other heavy chunks of debris.
Residents of the locality gathered at the site hoping that some survivor could be found. Some gave vent to their frustrations that not much had been done to find survivors.
“How many people could have survived if there had been a state and rescue operations ready?” asked Chadem, 28.
The blast which rocked the capital pummelled residential districts such as Gemmayze, which is home to many traditional buildings, some of which collapsed.
The rescue workers included volunteers from Chile and members of the civil defence.
