Beirut blast: dozens of historic buildings in Lebanon capital at risk of collapse

Unesco vows to lead global effort to rescue culture and heritage of Beirut as FBI joins inquiry to investigate cause of massive port blast

About 60 historic buildings in Beirut are at risk of collapse following last week's devastating port explosion, Lebanese officials have warned, as the UN's cultural agency vowed to lead the international campaign for the recovery and restoration of Beirut's heritage.

At least 8,000 buildings, many concentrated in the historic quarters of Gemayzeh and Mar Mikhael, were affected, said Sarkis Khoury, director general of antiquities at Lebanon's Ministry of Culture, according to Unesco. Among them are some 640 historic buildings, approximately 60 of which were at risk of collapse, he said.