A massive explosion devastated the Central Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, killing more than 100 and injuring 4,000 people at around 6:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, i.e., August 5, 2020.
The blast caused huge mushroom cloud-shaped shockwave, flipping cars and people running in despair. The eyewitnesses described the scene as Apocalypse. The explosion was equivalent to earthquake of magnitude of 3.3. People have been advised to stay indoors and wear mask as there are toxics gases in the environment.
The Prime Minister of Lebanon – Hassan Diab said that the explosion was caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers and bombs, which had been stored at a Port Warehouse for 6 years. Highly explosive material which was confiscated years ago was kept at the warehouse.
Declaring the explosion as “great national disaster”, Hasan Diab said, “All those responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price.”
Hassan Diab has called for an investigation with results within 5 days. It left thousands of people homeless and cramming into hospitals for treatment. The number of casualties is likely to rise as the forces are still looking for people stucked in the wreckage.
He also said, “There are many people missing until now,” Hasan said. “People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity. We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages.”
The hospitals in Beirut are finding it hard to cope up with the increasing number of injured being brought to the hospital. One of Beirut’s major hospitals, Hotel Dieu, received around 400 injured patients. Lebanon’s Health Minister – Hamad Hassan said on a national television that 4 hospitals are out of service because of damage from the explosion.
Residences in the range of 10 kms were also damaged. The explosion damaged several buildings including the residence of the President of Lebanon – Michel Aoun.
One of the eyewitnesses said, “You can see injured people all over the streets in Beirut, glass all over the place, cars are damaged, it is like an apocalypse.”
Already broken by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the blast adds to the woes of the economy which is continuously falling. The poverty rates in the country are going above 50%.
In a televised speech, Hasan Diab has urged all the countries to come forward and help Lebanon. Responding to Hasan Diab’s request, Israel offered Israel offered humanitarian medical assistance. United Kingdom (U.K.), France, Turkey, Qatar and Spain also offered their support to Lebanon.
Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is among those searching for survivors in Beirut and has offered to build a field hospital and help as needed.
Extending support, the President of France – Emmanuel Macron tweeted, “I express my brotherly solidarity with the Lebanese people after the explosion, which caused a large number of casualties, this matter in Beirut, and caused serious damage. France has always stood by Lebanon. There is French aid, which is now being transferred to Lebanon. (Translated from Arabic) ” Offering condolences, the Foreign Minister of Jordan – Ayman Safadi tweeted, “Under the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II, may God protect him, I contacted His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs #لبنان Brother Charbel Wahba, conveying the Kingdom’s condolences to the victims of the tragic explosion in the port #بيروت And, confirming that Jordan stands beside the brothers and is ready to provide any assistance they need. God have mercy on the victims and blessed the injured
