A powerful blast in port warehouse near central Beirutstoring highly explosive material killed 78 people, injured nearly 4,000 andsent seismic shockwaves across the Lebanese capital.
Buildings collapsed and glass shattered as helicopters andfirefighters doused the flames in the city's port. Hospitals were overwhelmed,and ambulances lined up to work on search-and-rescue people hit by theexplosion.
About 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored in the Beirut port warehouse that exploded Tuesday, devastating large parts of the Lebanese capital.
"It is unacceptable that a shipment of 2,750 tonnes ofammonium nitrate has been present for six years in a warehouse, without takingpreventive measures," Lebanese capital, Prime Minister Hassan Diab? said at a defence council meeting, a spokesman told a press conference.
Also Read:?Beirut Lebanon Explosion: Why Deadly Blast Wave Spread Destruction Kilometres Away??
Here are a few videos that show the blast from differentangles and it¡¯s terrifying:
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?#5May Allah grant paradise those people who died in Lebanon incident. #BeirutExplosion #PrayForLebanon #Beirut pic.twitter.com/XNEU3v0N37
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The United States, Britain, France and Germany expressedshock and sympathy and said they were ready to help.
MTV news has quoted Beirut governor Marwan Abboud stating that as many as 250,000 people have been left homeless by the explosion. He said agencies are working to provide shelter, food and water.
Residents, desperate to reach their loved ones, are sharing pictures of missing relatives, as well as phone numbers online.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated at a White Housebriefing that the explosion was a possible attack. Asked later to elaborate,Trump said that he had met with some U.S. generals who felt it was not ¡°somekind of a manufacturing explosion type of event.¡±
Two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity,said initial information contradicted Trump¡¯s view, however.
The blast came at a time when Lebanon¡¯s economy is facing collapse from the financial crisis and the coronavirus restrictions. Many have lost jobs, while the worth of their savings has evaporated as the currency has plunged in value against the dollar. The result has thrown many into poverty and has put thousands out of their homes.? ??
Also Read: Beirut Lebanon Explosion: Why Deadly Blast Wave Spread Destruction Kilometres Away
All Inputs Reuters/AP