Initial investigation points to negligence says government source: Reuters

An official source told Reuters that the Beirut port blast was a result of years of inaction and negligence over the storage of highly explosive material. 

The official source told Reuters: "It is negligence" and that the issue had gone before several committees and judges where "nothing was done" to remove the material. 

The source added that a fire started at port warehouse 9 on Tuesday and spread to port warehouse 12 where the Ammonium Nitrate was stored. 

Another source close to a port employee said a team that inspected the material six months ago warned it could “blow up all of Beirut” if not removed.