Beirut explosion

UPDATE — 6 August 2020

The media reports do not adequately convey the scale of the devastation caused by one of the world’s largest explosions.

We have been advised of damage to a shopping mall at approx. 5 km from the explosion where shop fronts have been destroyed. We aim to have more detail on this site later today.

Our adjusters are at the site today which is approximately 2 km from the centre of the explosion. Damage there is extensive with all of the windows being blown out, suspended (false) ceilings collapsed and internal partitioning knocked over damaging contents.

The Port area where the explosion occurred is heavily populated with a mixture of commercial property, hotels, shops and residences and we expect to see structural damage in addition to blast damage to the lighter elements of building construction.

Beirut has a narrow “coastal strip” which is densely populated with steep hills surrounding the coastal strip. This rising ground would potentially expose more buildings to the shock wave from the blast as there is potentially limited “shadowing” where the shock wave could be dissipated by the local topography.

Access to the port is severely limited at this time but our marine experts are on standby to manage marine liability claims on behalf of London market insurers. Our team has experience in handling major losses, including similar events such as the Tianjin explosion in 2015.

We have created a technical and support hub in Dubai including qualified loss adjusters, engineers, construction specialists and accountants working closely with our people on the ground in Lebanon.

In London, we have our strong desktop marine TPA team, with many years of-experience managing marine liability claims on behalf of London market insurers. These are backed by two qualified International marine solicitors.

We are ready to provide claims assistance for this incident:

• Site survey when possible, for all types of loss arising from the explosion
• Surge / increased volume
• Specific Liability claims handling for any of the above, including the port authority liability insurance, working with cedants as required
• Technical claims experience and advisory/consultancy
• Complex claims overage reviews and disputes resolution
• Master mariners, marine and structural engineers
• Contractual reviews
• Forensic accounting and business interruption through Crawford Forensic Accountancy Services
• Partnering with your choice of lawyers, as required
• Recoveries expertise and experience/contractual chain reviews
• Limitation of liability
  
  Crawford is ready to assist carriers, brokers and corporates with claims from this disaster and has already been instructed on claims by interested parties and has adjusters on the ground to handle claims.
  
  Brian Clark
  Executive Director, Middle East
  M +971 50 144 8874
  E brian.clark@crawco.me
  
  Derek Patterson
  Regional Director, Global Technical Services
  M +971 50 455 0870
  E derek.patterson@crawco.me
  
  Rob Hawes
  Head of Global Marine
  M +44 7786 312775
  E rob.hawes@crawco.co.uk
  
  Benedict Burke
  Chief Client Officer,
  Global Client Development
  M +44 7919 552624
  E benedict.burke@crawco.co.uk
  
  Andrew Bart
  Global President,
  Crawford Global Technical Services
  M +44 7802 591 040
  E andrew.bart@crawco.co.uk

============

ORIGINAL UPDATE — 5 July 2020

The city of Beirut was shaken after a huge explosion devastated the port area of the capital Beirut on Tuesday. The explosion appears to have been caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse. Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertiliser in agriculture and as an explosive.

The explosion tragically killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others. Rescue workers in Lebanon are searching for more than a hundred people who are missing.

Crawford has a sizable and experienced operation in the Middle East and has adjusters on the ground in Lebanon with experience in large scale material damage, business interruption, and marine claims. Our response is being coordinated by our experienced team in Dubai to provide carriers, brokers and corporates with a rapid and expert response to this disaster.

The main explosion zone at the port is a “no-go” area and the authorities have cordoned off the explosion site, which includes areas outside the port. They are still investigating the cause and cleaning the toxic deposits. Our adjusters and partners are on standby for when access is granted.

For more information: please contact:

Brian Clark
Executive Director, Middle East
M +971 50 144 8874
E brian.clark@crawco.me

Derek Patterson
Regional Director, Global Technical Services
M +971 50 455 0870
E derek.patterson@crawco.me

Rob Hawes
Head of Global Marine
M +44 7786 312775
E Rob.Hawes@crawco.co.uk

Benedict Burke
Chief Client Officer, Global Client Development
M +44 (0)7919 552624
E benedict.burke@crawco.co.uk

Andrew Bart
Global President, Global Technical Services
M +44 7802 591 040
E andrew.bart@crawco.co.uk