Videos Show Shockwave That Ripped Through Beirut After Explosion Leaving 250,000 Left Homeless
An enormous explosion shook Beirut, Lebanon,buildings collapsed and glass shattered as helicopters and firefighters doused the flames in the city's port.
A powerful blast in port warehouse near central Beirut
storing highly explosive material killed 78 people, injured nearly 4,000 and
sent seismic shockwaves across the Lebanese capital.
AP
Buildings collapsed and glass shattered as helicopters and firefighters doused the flames in the city's port. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and ambulances lined up to work on search-and-rescue people hit by the explosion.
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 of ammonium nitrate has been present for six years in a warehouse, without taking preventive 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 different angles and it¡¯s terrifying:
#1
Footage of the massive explosion at #Beirut port a short while ago. It's truly frightening. #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/OZ0hZ5SwlC
¡ª Nader Itayim | ?????? ?????? (@ncitayim) August 4, 2020
#2
This is so terrifying! The Beirut explosion from a car driving on the road next to the port#Lebanon #BeirutExplosion pic.twitter.com/p8V99136To
¡ª ???? ??????? ? (@KFartom) August 4, 2020
#3
Huge blast in Beirut just now! pic.twitter.com/hId8JhZMKV
¡ª Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020
#4
Looks like at least one warehouse by the port went up. Widespread damage from the blast throughout the city.pic.twitter.com/G2O4VjnbDd
¡ª Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020
#5May Allah grant paradise those people who died in Lebanon incident. #BeirutExplosion #PrayForLebanon #Beirut pic.twitter.com/XNEU3v0N37
¡ª Sajedur Rahman Srijon (@SajedurSrijon) August 5, 2020
#6
cctv of shockwave inside a minimarket in #Beirut pic.twitter.com/S2VVVUofN3
¡ª §¡§Ý§Ö§Ü§ã§Ñ§ß§Õ§Ñ§â (@TRik5teR) August 5, 2020
#7
#BeirutBlast Moved to tears! A CCTV camera captured a touching scene in #Beirut, Lebanon where a father picked up his son immediately after the explosion and tried to hide him in a safe place. #PrayforLebanon pic.twitter.com/zT07mNfGMC#BeirutBlast
¡ª Shoeb Sk (@shoebsk999) August 5, 2020
#8
A Beirut resident's video shows shattered glass and debris strewn throughout her apartment after massive deadly explosion in Lebanon's capital.
¡ª ABC News (@ABC) August 5, 2020
At least 70 people were killed by the blast, with nearly 4,000 injured. https://t.co/z38Lfr33iP pic.twitter.com/iKdnN1zByY
The United States, Britain, France and Germany expressed shock 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.
Abboud to MTV: Damage is huge in #Beirut and its value ranges between 3 to 5 billion; around 200-250 thousand people have become homeless, and we are working on their relief by providing food, water, and housing
¡ª MTV English News (@MTVEnglishNews) August 5, 2020
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 House
briefing 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 ¡°some
kind 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
