Huge blast kills 70, injures thousands in Lebanon

A huge explosion killed at least 70 people and injured more than 3,000 in Beirut, Lebanon.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon and was reported to have been caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab described the ugly occurrence as a ‘big catastrophe’ and vowed that those responsible would pay the price.

In a tweet posted by the Prime Minister, he explained that the explosion was instigated by more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left unsecured at a warehouse near the city’s port for six years.

A video currently circulating online shows the moment a building exploded, sending a colossal shockwave across the city that was heard and felt more than 200 kilometres away.

The once beautiful city now offers gory pictures of upturned vehicles and dishevelled streets filled with twisted metals.

Abbas Ibrahim; Lebanon’s internal security chief; believes the blast may have been caused by explosive material confiscated from a ship and stored at the port.

The US President Donald Trump said his generals believed the explosion was most likely a bomb attack, but he failed to provide further details.

The situation at present is dire as hospitals can no longer take more patients and are urgently pleading for blood and power generators to keep their lights on.

Eye witness account claimed that the damage caused much shock and left many dazed with some comparing it to a nuclear bomb explosion.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK was ‘ready to offer help and support’ to those affected.

A government spokesperson revealed that a small number of staff at the country’s embassy in Beirut have been left with non-life threatening injuries and are receiving medical attention.

Israel has announced that it had ‘nothing to do with the incident’ and humanitarian and medical assistance is being offered as ‘this is the time to transcend conflict’.

The explosion comes as Lebanon experiences its worst economic and financial crisis in decades – and amid rising tensions between Israel and militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon’s southern border.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Prime Minister has called for a day of national mourning today; Wednesday, 5 August 2020.