Potholes, graffiti, broken streetlights in Lebanon as it’s economy crumbles

Beirut’s roads are riddled with potholes, many walls are covered in anti-government graffiti and countless street lamps have long since gone dark.

At night, car drivers creep cautiously past broken traffic lights and strain their eyes for missing manhole covers, stolen for the value of their metal.

Many parking metres have been disabled in protest over an alleged corruption scandal, while cars are parked randomly on sidewalks.

Charred patches from burnt tyres are seared into the asphalt downtown, reminders of angry street protests of past years against the political leadership held responsible for the malaise.

Amid speculation on whether the revenues were indeed being put to their intended use, protesters stopped people from using them.

Since then, the metres have ceased working, and traffic light upkeep has been halted until further notice.

Beirut’s mayor, dismissing accusations of graft and inefficiency, said many plans had not been implemented due to “exhausting bureaucracy” and the rapid currency depreciation.