Drivers Stranded for Hours as Miqati Gives Instructions to Resolve Chaos

Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati instructed on Thursday the specialized agencies to deal with the chaos on the streets caused by heavy rains and asked security apparatuses to be on standby for more storms.

Caretaker Information Minister Walid al-Daouq quoted Miqati as saying that the reaction of the people, who were stranded for hours in their vehicles, was natural.

“He expressed sympathy with them,” al-Daouq said after meeting Miqati at the Grand Serail.

“It is unfortunate that the unity of the Lebanese on the roads and in their daily lives despite their different political affiliations was not met by any move from the political leaders to bridge differences,” Miqati told him.

“We as a government assume full responsibility and it is our duty to say it courageously and seek to resolve the problem and prevent it from happening again,” the caretaker PM said during the meeting.

Miqati's instructions came as Lebanon witnessed a second day of total chaos on the streets and mainly in Beirut and its suburbs.

One side of the airport road's tunnel was shortly blocked during the morning rush hour after a Civil Defense Department vehicle used to pump out the accumulating rainwater broke down, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The Internal Security Forces and the department later removed the vehicle from the tunnel to allow commuters to reach their destinations.

During that time, the ISF diverted the traffic towards the Ouzai seaside road, NNA said.

Thursday's incident added to the woes of the people, who a day earlier spent hours on the roads after they were blocked due to severe rain.

The heavy rains rendered the airport road completely impassable on Wednesday. TV footage showed vehicles submerged in water inside the tunnel.

Elsewhere, the coastal highway from Saifi to Karantia, Dora, Nahr el-Mot, Zalka, Jal el-Dib and Dbaye witnessed a severe traffic jam during the afternoon rush hour.

The Mkalles-Mansourieh road was also a “living hell” on Wednesday as one commuter described it.

Several cars broke down from the heavy rain and their drivers left them in the middle of the road, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi was heavily criticized over neglect.

He was scheduled to hold a press conference at 12:00 pm Thursday but he later canceled it.

Miqati told al-Daouq that Aridi informed him that he had given orders to all contractors to swiftly clean sewers and not to wait for the transfer of funds.

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel also warded off criticism on Thursday, saying it was not up to the ISF to unclog blocked sewers.

The security forces are ready to sacrifice for the sake of the citizen but there are 30 cabinet ministers who should assume their responsibilities, he told LBCI TV.