What is the truth about the outbreak of a large fire in the port of Beirut?

A video circulating showing black smoke rising from an area near the Beirut port, raising questions about a fire breaking out inside the port.

Beirut Fire Brigade confirmed that the smoke was caused by a fire in a waste sorting area in the fish market, near the port, denying that the fire broke out inside the port.

Beirut Fire Brigade Public Relations Officer, Captain Ali Najm, denied what is being circulated on social media about an Israeli aircraft dropping a bomb on Beirut Port.

He reiterated that "the fire that broke out at the entrance to the port came during maintenance work that was being carried out at the waste sorting area in the fish market," stressing that "the fire has been brought under control and work is underway to cool the area."

It is noteworthy that on August 4, 2020, an explosion occurred in the port of Beirut, which was called "Beirutshima" in comparison to what happened to the city of Hiroshima as a result of the nuclear explosion.

The explosion resulted in a huge mushroom cloud-like smoke cloud accompanied by a shock wave that shook the capital Beirut, causing extensive damage to the port and shattering the glass facades of buildings and homes in most neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health recorded the death of more than 218 people, including those missing who have not been found, and the injury of more than 7,000 others. It announced direct damage to about 50,000 housing units, and about 300,000 people became homeless. The governor of Beirut estimated the material losses resulting from the explosion at between 10 and 15 billion US dollars.