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Rescue workers have detected signs of life in the rubble of a building in a residential area of Beirut that collapsed after a huge explosion at a nearby port one month ago.
A team with a rescue dog detected movement under a destroyed building in the Lebanese capital that came crashing down in the blast that killed about 190 people and injured 6,000 others.
“These [signs of breathing and pulse] along with the temperature sensor means there is a possibility of life,” rescue worker Eddy Bitar told reporters at the scene in the Gemmayze area.
After several hours of digging through rubble, however, the operation was halted because the building was deemed too unsafe.
Lebanon: Beirut explosion aftermath – In pictures
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The scene of an explosion in Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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Firefighters spray water at a fire following an explosion in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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An aerial view of ruined structures at the port
Getty Images
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A Lebanese couple drive past the debris of a building in the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael
AFP via Getty Images
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An aerial view of ruined structures at the port
Getty Images
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Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael
AFP via Getty Images
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An aerial view of ruined structures at the port,
Getty Images
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A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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A fireball exploding while smoke is billowing at the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut
MOUAFAC HARB/AFP via Getty Image
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Lebanese firefighters work at the scene of an explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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The scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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TALAL TRABOULSI via REUTERS
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A view shows the aftermath of yesterday’s blast at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebano
Getty Images
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Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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A view shows the aftermath of yesterday’s blast at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
via REUTERS
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A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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People gather outside American University of Beirut (AUB) medical centre following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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People ride past a car destroyed after a building wall collapsed after a large explosion in Beirut
Getty Images
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Damaged church and vehicles are seen following yesterday’s blast that shook the Lebanese capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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The scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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Buildings and cars are partially destroyed in the neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael following an explosion at the port of Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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A rescue worker tends to an injured man following an explosion at the port of Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions
Getty Images
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The destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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Smoke is seen after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
GABY MAAMARY via REUTERS
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Civilians help an injured man at the explosion scene that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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Smoke rises as people walk near the site of an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut (AUB) medical centre following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions
Getty Images
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Damaged vehicle and buildings are pictured near the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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A general view shows the damage near the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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People stand near damaged cars following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions
Getty Images
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People inspect the damage near the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebano
REUTERS
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A wounded man walks next to a damaged car on a street, following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
via REUTERS
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Damaged buildings are seen after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
via REUTERS
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Smoke rises over destroyed structures following large explosion
Getty Images
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A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosion
Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
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REUTERS
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Getty Images
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The scene of an explosion in Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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Firefighters spray water at a fire following an explosion in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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An aerial view of ruined structures at the port
Getty Images
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A Lebanese couple drive past the debris of a building in the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael
AFP via Getty Images
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An aerial view of ruined structures at the port
Getty Images
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Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael
AFP via Getty Images
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An aerial view of ruined structures at the port,
Getty Images
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A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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A fireball exploding while smoke is billowing at the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut
MOUAFAC HARB/AFP via Getty Image
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Lebanese firefighters work at the scene of an explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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The scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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TALAL TRABOULSI via REUTERS
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A view shows the aftermath of yesterday’s blast at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebano
Getty Images
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Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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A view shows the aftermath of yesterday’s blast at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
via REUTERS
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A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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People gather outside American University of Beirut (AUB) medical centre following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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People ride past a car destroyed after a building wall collapsed after a large explosion in Beirut
Getty Images
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Damaged church and vehicles are seen following yesterday’s blast that shook the Lebanese capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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The scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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Buildings and cars are partially destroyed in the neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael following an explosion at the port of Beiru
AFP via Getty Images
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A rescue worker tends to an injured man following an explosion at the port of Beirut
AFP via Getty Images
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions
Getty Images
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The destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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Smoke is seen after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
GABY MAAMARY via REUTERS
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Civilians help an injured man at the explosion scene that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon
AP
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Smoke rises as people walk near the site of an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut (AUB) medical centre following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions
Getty Images
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Damaged vehicle and buildings are pictured near the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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A general view shows the damage near the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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People stand near damaged cars following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions
Getty Images
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People inspect the damage near the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebano
REUTERS
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A wounded man walks next to a damaged car on a street, following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
via REUTERS
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Damaged buildings are seen after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
via REUTERS
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Smoke rises over destroyed structures following large explosion
Getty Images
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A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon
REUTERS
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Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosion
Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
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REUTERS
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AFP via Getty Images
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Getty Images
Heavier machinery was required to help lift the rubble safely, a rescue worker said, and it could not be brought until morning.
“There’s a lot of danger to the team,” Michel el-Mur said. “There are 10 of them up there, and we can’t take a risk on a single one of them.”
The team of rescue workers included volunteers who came from Chile, as well as Lebanese volunteers and members of the civil defence.
News of the rescue prompted crowds to form at the site. They grew angry as rescue efforts were paused in a city desperate for hope.
“Shame! Shame! There’s a soul in there!” one woman shouted at Lebanese army members guarding the site.
Earlier in the evening, rescue workers in bright jackets clambered over the building, which had collapsed in the blast. It once housed a bar on its ground floor.
One rescue worker also carried a rescue dog onto the mound of smashed masonry.