Two massive explosions rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, causing a tremendous blast wave in surrounding neighborhoods that shattered windows, doors, and damaging buildings, resulting in deaths and injuries.
There were at least 100 people killed, and over 4,000 were injured. The Lebanese Red Cross said the death toll could climb as the discovery of dead bodies continue with corpses buried in the rubble.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the primary blast located at Beirut’s port by an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been ignited. The chemical had been left unsecured for six years in a warehouse, as Diab vowed to punish those responsible for the explosion. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the ignition of the shipped ammonium nitrate.
“I will not rest until we find the person responsible for what happened, hold him accountable, and impose the most severe penalties.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab
People residing nearby port recorded graphic photos and videos of the scene and posted it on social media where a mushroom-like cloud mixed with significant smoke was seen hoisting above the city.
According to GFZ, a geosciences center in Germany, the blast that struck is closely similar to a 3.5 magnitude earthquake. The effect sent shockwaves that were felt as far as Cyprus, over 180 miles (200 kilometers) through the Mediterranean.
The unforeseen devastation came at a time when the country continued to deal with the paralyzing effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its struggling economy. Hospitals were quickly filled with victims and went beyond capacity as emergency teams rushed in and out for hours to transport the wounded immediately for care.
The Supreme Defence Council of Lebanon on Tuesday recommended the declaration of a disaster-stricken city to Beirut. It meant implementing a state of emergency to the Lebanese capital for two weeks and giving the military personnel the responsibility for security.
In a report by CNBC’s Hadley Gamble, it was confirmed via phone call that former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri was unharmed following the second blast in a place near Hariri’s residence.
In his official Twitter account, Lebanese President Michel Aoun immediately called for an emergency meeting with the country’s Supreme Defense Council.
Numerous countries, including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Iran, Qatar, and Israel, have offered to help Lebanon in its recovery. It came as a surprise as the countries of Lebanon and Israel are still technically at war.
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