<p>Lebanon's economic meltdown is not just leaving gaping holes in state coffers, with thieves now plucking Beirut's manhole covers for scrap.</p>.<p>Governor Marwan Abboud told <em>AFP</em> Wednesday that soaring poverty had led to a spike in the theft of manhole covers, because "they are made out of cast iron which has become much more expensive".</p>.<p>Lebanon is in the grips of its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war, and Abboud said the thefts started rising after the devastating August 4 port explosion sowed more misery.</p>.<p>The Lebanese pound has lost more than 80 per cent of its value against the dollar on the black market, and a growing number of people in the once relatively prosperous nation are relying on food handouts and sinking into poverty.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/lebanon-administers-first-covid-19-vaccines-to-health-workers-elderly-951150.html" target="_blank">Lebanon administers first Covid-19 vaccines to health workers, elderly</a></strong></p>.<p>The fast disappearing manhole covers, which the authorities say they cannot afford to replace, are making the streets increasingly perilous for vehicles and pedestrians, especially at night.</p>.<p>"We are deploying people to look for the thieves day and night," said one municipality official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>.<p>Lebanon's <em>Al-Akhbar</em> daily newspaper said Wednesday that a cover weighing upwards of 70 kilogrammes (154 pounds) could fetch $100 for scrap, income that is attracting increasingly organised and professional gangs.</p>
<p>Lebanon's economic meltdown is not just leaving gaping holes in state coffers, with thieves now plucking Beirut's manhole covers for scrap.</p>.<p>Governor Marwan Abboud told <em>AFP</em> Wednesday that soaring poverty had led to a spike in the theft of manhole covers, because "they are made out of cast iron which has become much more expensive".</p>.<p>Lebanon is in the grips of its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war, and Abboud said the thefts started rising after the devastating August 4 port explosion sowed more misery.</p>.<p>The Lebanese pound has lost more than 80 per cent of its value against the dollar on the black market, and a growing number of people in the once relatively prosperous nation are relying on food handouts and sinking into poverty.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/lebanon-administers-first-covid-19-vaccines-to-health-workers-elderly-951150.html" target="_blank">Lebanon administers first Covid-19 vaccines to health workers, elderly</a></strong></p>.<p>The fast disappearing manhole covers, which the authorities say they cannot afford to replace, are making the streets increasingly perilous for vehicles and pedestrians, especially at night.</p>.<p>"We are deploying people to look for the thieves day and night," said one municipality official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.</p>.<p>Lebanon's <em>Al-Akhbar</em> daily newspaper said Wednesday that a cover weighing upwards of 70 kilogrammes (154 pounds) could fetch $100 for scrap, income that is attracting increasingly organised and professional gangs.</p>