Last Updated on August 5, 2020, 9:58 AM AST by Anthony Morris
A major blast in the port warehouses near the central Beirut which was storing a highly explosive material has killed 78 people and injured around 4,000 people.
The blast has sent seismic shockwaves which shattered windows, shook the ground and smashed masonry across the capital of Lebanon.
Officials have said that they expected the number of deaths to rise after the blast on Tuesday as emergency workers dug through the rubble to rescue the people and remove the dead bodies.
President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun said that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is used in fertilisers and bombs, were stored for six years at the port without any safety measures.
He added that storing it without security measures was “unacceptable”.
The President has called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday and said that a two-week state of emergency should be declared in the capital.
George Kettani, the head of Lebanon Red Cross, said that the explosion was a catastrophe and that there are casualties and victims everywhere.
The blast happened nearly at around 6 p.m. (1500 GMT), and after hours of the blast, a fire blazed in the port district and cast an orange glow across the night sky as the helicopters hovered in the air and ambulance sirens sounded across the Lebanese capital.
A security source said that the victims were taken outside the city for treatment because the Beirut hospitals were already overwhelmed with the wounded persons.
Ambulances from the south and north of the country and the Bekaa valley to the east were called in for help.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that there would be accountability for the deadly blast and added that those who are responsible would pay the price.
The US embassy in Beirut has warned the residents of the city regarding the reports of toxic gases which were released by the blast and has urged the people to stay indoors and wear masks if available.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
