explosions that destroyed the port in beirut which was lebanon's main gateway for imported goods the country relies on imported wheat and its only grain saddam was a bit to raise its. massive quantities of grain spilled across beirut's harbor another crisis looming for the city as food supplies become more scarce rescue teams have had a hard time looking for survivors buildings are smashed together finding spaces where people may still be trapped is a race against time. really you go our experience is that people can still be found alive up to 80 hours after an explosion or an earthquake so we still have hope. 16 workers have been detained others are under house arrest as public anger grows. protests broke out overnight following months of demonstrations against corruption and cronyism many see the explosions as the result of official incompetence the ammonium nitrate was stored improperly for more than 6 years it appears to have