A huge explosion in a port warehouse district near the center of Beirut, killed at least 73 and injured over 3700 others, releasing shockwaves across the Lebanese capital in the evening hours of Tuesday, shattering windows, causing apartment balconies to collapse, and causing widespread damage to everything in between the shockwaves.
In the developing story, the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Reportedly, the warehouse situated in the port was loaded with highly explosive 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate which was on the way to Africa when they exploded, Lebanon General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim said.
Officials expect the death toll to rise sharply as emergency workers dig through rubble across the city to rescue people and remove the dead. It was the most powerful blast to hit the Lebanese capital in years, making the ground tremble.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that those responsible for the explosion at a “dangerous” warehouse in the Beirut port area would pay the price, and called for a day of mourning on Wednesday.
Countries like Iran, UK, Saudi Arabia, offered their support and solidarity with Lebanese people. France, Turkey and Qatar sent medical aid and field hospitals to support medical response.
This comes at a time where Lebanon is suffering from an economic crisis while battling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Thousands of Lebanese people reportedly lost their savings overnight while prices for basic goods have inflated. The country is also experiencing higher COVID-19 rates.
This is a developing story, updates to follow;
In the meantime anyone who wants to help the Lebanese people suffering they can donate through the below mentioned links. As the country is going through a deep economical crisis, donating in US Dollars would be of great assistance.
–Donate to Disaster Relief for Beirut Explosion
– Donate to the Lebanese Red Cross