JUDY WOODRUFF: In Beirut,
Lebanon, authorities have
detained 16 employees
at the city's port,
as they investigate
Tuesday's catastrophic
explosion. The blast
killed at least 135 people,
injured more than
5,000, and fueled a new
wave of public fury.
Special correspondent
Jane Ferguson reports on
the day's developments.
JANE FERGUSON: After the
massive blast destroyed
much of Beirut, now comes
the monumental clean-up.
Groups of volunteers
are working together,
salvaging what they can.
In some small way it helps
distract from the trauma.
MAN (through translator): You
can't feel anything in Lebanon.
There's nothing to be sad about
or to think about.
JANE FERGUSON: The shatter of
falling glass continues, as
if the city keeps breaking.
The funerals of rescue
workers began today, this
one for a young female
firefighter. Distraught
family and colleagues
wept goodbye.
The scale of this tragedy
has drawn the attention
of the world. French
President Emmanuel Macron
walked the streets of
Beirut and was quickly
mobbed by angry people.
"It's unacceptable. The
corruption is unacceptable," a
college student shouts at him.
"Help us. There is no
future for our kids here,"
pleads another person.
France has led efforts to gather
aid for Lebanon, in the grip of
an economic collapse in recent
months. Now even more
help will be needed.
EMMANUEL MACRON, French
President (through translator):
We will launch a European and
international initiative to
bring money and help directly
to people. All this fear, this
anxiety, the anger you have is
against politicians and against
corruption in the country.
JANE FERGUSON: Protests
calling for justice have
begun. Mass demonstrations
against government
corruption and
mismanagement have rocked
Lebanon for nine months.
Now, with the blast
seemingly caused by
negligence, highly explosive
chemicals carelessly left
in a warehouse, the
fury is growing. America
is sending help, too.
General Frank McKenzie,
commander of U.S. Central
Command, pledged continued
support, including shipments of
food, water and
medical supplies.
Even before this disaster,
Lebanon was bankrupt and
unable to afford food
and fuel. Now several
hundred thousand of its people
are homeless too, with a
government incapable of helping
them.
For the "PBS NewsHour,"
I'm Jane Ferguson.