Ya Libnan

Massive explosion rocks Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Hundreds injured

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A large explosion rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, damaging buildings and offices around the city. The source of the explosion was a major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers near the port in Beirut, the state-run National News Agency reported.

A picture shows the scene of an explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020. – A large explosion rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, an AFP correspondent said. The blast, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city. Its exact location was unknown. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

A red cloud hung over the city in the wake of the blast as firefighting teams rushed to the scene to try to put out the fire.

 Local news reported multiple people were wounded in the incident.

Smoke rises in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir [Reuters]

“I saw a fireball and smoke billowing over Beirut. People were screaming and running, bleeding. Balconies were blown off buildings. Glass in high-rise buildings shattered and fell to the street,” said a Reuters witness. 

Local broadcaster LBC quoted the health minister as saying there was a “very high number” of injures and a large amount of damage. Al Mayadeen television said hundreds were wounded. 

Smoke rises after an explosion was heard in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah

Another Reuters witness said she saw heavy grey smoke near the port area and then heard an explosion and saw flames of fire and black smoke: “All the downtown area windows are smashed and there are wounded people walking around. It is total chaos.”

A massive bomb like explosion has hit what some say is the port of Beirut with some reporting windows were shattered for miles.
A massive explosion has rocked the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, destroying buildings, wounding hundreds of people and causing widespread damage. The afternoon blast shook several parts of the capital and thick smoke billowed from the city centre and appeared to have been triggered by a fire in a warehouse.
It destroyed homes and offices around the port and shattered windows across the city.
Beirut local Fady Roumieh was among a large number of Twitter users to post videos of the explosion.
A massive explosion has rocked the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, destroying buildings, wounding hundreds of people and causing widespread damage. This photo shows one of the people wounded
Firefighters spray water at a fire after an explosion was heard in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 4, 2020.

A massive explosion has rocked the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, destroying buildings, wounding hundreds of people and causing widespread damage. The US Central command expressed concern over the explosion

Two explosions not one



Most of the reports talked about an explosion but according to the Lebanese Daily Star there were 2 explosions .

According to the report the explosions that rocked Beirut port Tuesday afternoon, killed several and wounded hundreds and inflicted large scale damage to many parts of the capital.

At least 12 were reported dead by Reuters’ security and medical sources. The Lebanese Red Cross reported that more than 30 teams are aiding the injured. 

Highly explosive material found
2 massive explosions rocked the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, destroying buildings, killing several and wounding hundreds of people and causing widespread damage. This photo shows one of the people wounded

General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim in a visit to the explosion site said, “We cannot rush the investigation but there seems to have been material stored years ago. The word ‘fireworks’ is laughable. There is highly explosive material that had been seized.” 

The explosion was heard as far as Cyrpus, according to Cypriot media. 

Health Minister Hamad Hassan said there is a high likelihood of a number of injuries. T
Debris and glass covered the streets of Downtown Beirut. Cars and building windows were shattered. 


Israeli officials said Israel had nothig to do with the explosion in Beirut.

U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters it was not immediately clear what the cause was, and that there was no indication of any injuries to any U.N. personnel.

“We do not have information about what has happened precisely, what has caused this, whether it’s accidental or manmade act,” he said.

The U.S. Pentagon said: “We are aware of the explosion and are concerned for the potential loss of life due to such a massive explosion.”

Update

According to General Abbas Ibrahim the explosion occurred in the warehouse that contained highly explosive material that was confiscated from one of the ships and the government have have disposed of it long time ago . Some reports identified the material as Sodium Nitrate which is used to make smoke bombs and fertilizers

There were urgent calls made to people in the area of the explosions to leave immediately and wear masks because this material is reportedly extremely dangerous for health

YL/CNN/ Al Jazerra/Reuters

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