A gas leak at a pizza place on Bechara El Khoury Street led to the death of at least night people yesterday. The victims did not die from the explosion but suffocated from the fumes as per the official fire department statement. The ministers of interior and tourism visited the site, as well as Beirut governor Marwan Abboud who shockingly stated that he wasn’t aware this restaurant existed and that it had no permit to operate.

So not only this place was not in line with public safety standards, but it opened without a permit in a very popular spot and no one knew about it, or at least that’s what they claim.

The question is: Who’s allowing these restaurants to open in the city’s capital? Who’s making sure they’re abiding by the most basic safety standards? And who will be held accountable for letting this restaurant operate? I think we all know the answer to that question.

Our sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

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