#Beirut #Lebanon
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A huge explosion in port warehouses near central Beirut killed more than 50 people, injured over 2,750 and sent shockwaves that shattered windows, smashed masonry and shook the ground across the Lebanese capital.
Officials said they expected the death toll to rise further after Tuesday's blast as emergency workers dug through rubble to rescue people and remove the dead. It was the most powerful explosion in years to hit Beirut, which is already reeling from an economic crisis and a surge in coronavirus infections.
Lebanon's interior minister said initial information indicated highly explosive material, seized years ago, that had been stored at the port had blown up. Israel, which has fought several wars with Lebanon, denied any role and offered help.
"What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe," the head of Lebanon's Red Cross George Kettani told broadcaster Mayadeen. "There are victims and casualties everywhere."
Hours after the blast, which struck shortly after 6 p.m. (1500 GMT), a fire still blazed in the port district, casting an orange glow across the night sky as helicopters hovered and ambulance sirens sounded across the capital.
A security source said victims were taken for treatment outside the city because Beirut hospitals were packed with wounded. Ambulances from the north and south of the country and the Bekaa valley to the east were called in to help.
The blast was so big that some residents in the city, where memories of heavy shelling during the 1975 to 1990 civil war live on, thought an earthquake had struck. Dazed, weeping and wounded people walked through streets searching for relatives.
"I promise you that this catastrophe will not pass without accountability," Prime Minister Hassan Diab told the nation. "Those responsible will pay the price," he said in his televised address, adding that details about the "dangerous warehouse" would be made public.
The interior minister told Al Jadeed TV that ammonium nitrate had been stored at the port since 2014.
The U.S. embassy in Beirut warned residents in the city about reports of toxic gases released by the blast, urging people to stay indoors and wear masks if available.
Footage of the explosion shared by residents on social media showed a column of smoke rising from the port followed by an enormous blast, sending up a white cloud and a fireball into the sky. Those filming the incident from high buildings 2 km (one mile) from the port were thrown backwards by the shock.
It was not immediately clear what caused the initial blaze on Tuesday that set off the blast.
Lebanon's health minister said more than 50 people had been killed and more than 2,750 injured. Lebanon's Red Cross said hundreds of people had been taken to hospitals.
The governor of Beirut port told Sky News a team of firefighters, who were battling the initial blaze, had "disappeared" after the explosion.
President Michel Aoun called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared. He said it was "unacceptable" that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored for six years without safety measures.
The prime minister called for a day of mourning.
The explosion occurred three days before a U.N.-backed court is due to deliver a verdict in the trial of four suspects from the Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah over a 2005 bombing which killed former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and 21 others.
Hariri was killed by a huge truck bomb on the same waterfront, about 2 km from the port.
Israeli officials said Israel had nothing to do with the blast and said their country was ready to give humanitarian and medical assistance to Lebanon. Shi'ite Iran, the main backer of Hezbollah, also offered support, as did Tehran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, a leading Sunni power. Western countries including the United States, Britain and France also said they were ready to assist.
Images showed port buildings reduced to tangled masonry, devastating the main entry point to a country that relies on food imports to feed its population of more than 6 million.
It threatens a new humanitarian crisis in a nation that hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and which is already grappling with economic meltdown under one of the world's biggest debt burdens.
Residents said glass was broken in neighborhoods on Beirut's Mediterranean coast and inland suburbs several kms (miles) away. In Cyprus, a Mediterranean island 110 miles (180 km) across the sea from Beirut, residents heard the blast. One resident in Nicosia said his house and window shutters shook. "All the downtown area windows are smashed and there are wounded people walking around. It is total chaos," a Reuters witness said.
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@JD-de5mq4 years agoSending love and prayers from Canada 🇨🇦 3
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@malmzeee4 years agopraying for Lebanon Love from Sweden 🇸🇪 2
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@nurhidayahida78744 years agoPraying for lebanon Love from 🇲🇨 2
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@xmall78454 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON🥀 🇱🇧 🙏🙏🙏From indonesia🇮🇩 555
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@syahrialproject50784 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON🇱🇧 . . . From INDONESIA .🙏💪🇲🇨 309
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@nancyvegarodriguez82694 years agoSTAY STRONG ❤️ Praying for Lebanon!! All the love from Mexico 🇲🇽🌮 1
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@parijatdas76684 years agoPray for Lebanon 🙏 ❤❤ from India 2
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@wira75184 years agoPray for people in Lebanon💔 From Indonesia🇮🇩❤️ 256
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@ranasalloom24614 years agoMost of my family lives 10-15 mins from the explosion site. I'm beyond words and can't express how devastated I am. Please pray for my people 💔🇱🇧 272
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@ryhohbaibe42384 years agoFrom Kenya.. My deep condolences for Lebanon 2
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@myriahloranne87744 years agoLet's pray for Lebanon 🙏 From Philippines!❤️ 1
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@clifforddavid39304 years agoSick of this year..😔 The greatest achievement in 2020 is to just be alive.. 622
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@andreijamestumbaga18704 years agoPray For Lebanon 🇱🇧 ° Stay Strong FROM PHILIPPINES 🇵🇭 198
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@wxxjxngifa1724 years agoStay strong Lebanon!! -From Korea 2
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@toniilovemusic4 years agoR.I.P. all the people who lost their lives in event. Praying for Lebanon from Slovenia Stay strong.😢🙏 161
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@proantagonist13514 years agoPray for Lebanon 🇱🇧 Love from United Kingdom 💖💘💕 1
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@ratumanasaradrotini29404 years agoPray for Lebanon 😭😭 Love from Fiji islands 💟 1
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@looovechilde4 years agoPraying for all Beirut, Lebanon people to recover as soon as possible 🇱🇧❤️ Love from Malaysia 🇲🇾❤️ 63
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@chomeo67974 years agoPray for Lebanon Love from America 🇺🇸 From a proud Vietnamese 🇻🇳 13
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@alkapedtv23284 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON 😭 . FROM KEDIRI JAWA TIMUR INDONESIA 🇮🇩🇲🇨 1
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@jaylynjuban87434 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON!!! from PHILIPPINES🇵🇭
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@audreychan57794 years agoMay we all pray for these people’s lives 🙏 144
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@kcc85994 years agoPrayers for Lebanon 🙏 From Philippines 🇵🇭 😢 74
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@renatojmr11324 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON🙏 FROM TIMOR-LESTE 🇹🇱
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@fidianto62284 years agoPray for lebanon from 🇮🇩... Lindungi lah saudara kami di sana... 🙏 2
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@emvizeyra4 years agoHealing prayers for everyone who are affected. 🇵🇭 112
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@animalqueenmaster63574 years agoI wish this stuff would stop happening. I hate when people lose their loved ones and it breaks my heart. Sending love and prayers from America🙏🙏❤❤ 163
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@chrisam68834 years agoPrayers for Lebanon 🇱🇧 From Nepal 🇳🇵
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@eiyangsubur_Alami4 years agoPray for LEBANON 😭😭😭😭 From Indonesia🇮🇩 🙏🙏 246
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@myreflection30234 years agoPraying for Lebanon... from 🇵🇭❤️ 7
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@angelzzspam4 years agoPraying for protection and health to those in the sick and in need for Lebanon, from England 🙏🏾
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@myawhite96184 years agoPraying for all who are hurt! From New York 1
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@internetuser27684 years agoprayers going out to anyone affected by this, it hurts my heart. 310
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@nosh90314 years agoMe sitting here, comfortably watching this from my safe college dorm room, makes me feel horrified. I cannot, CANNOT, begin to imagine the terror people are experiencing in Lebanon. My prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy. ...644
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@aditbgnx43224 years agoPraying for all bairut, Lebanon people to as soon as possible 🇱🇧❤️ Love from Indonesia 🇮🇩❤️
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@4mecritzz4994 years agoPray For Lebanon Hopefully Lebanon heals quickly as before 1
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@bnnbee20184 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON 🇱🇧 STAY STRONG ❤💪 - from MALAYSIA 🇲🇾 6
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@firdifallahart94034 years agoPray for LEBANON🇱🇧 From INDONESIA🇮🇩🙏🙏 4
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@kinjisalakasherpa89584 years agoMy prayers for Lebanon 🙁✋ Recover soon 😔From Nepal 1
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@user-wt4vk5zn7y4 years agopray for lebanon ....... from korea🇰🇷 1
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@ricajayediniecetulod11214 years agoPainful year so far💔 Praying for the fast recovery of this country🇱🇧 Pray for Lebanon🙏 Love, people of the Philippines ♥️🇵🇭 18
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@terriwood74244 years agoPraying for all suffering from this horrific explosion. Rest in peace to all lives that were taken. So heartbreaking. 💔 4
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@loretagarduque25614 years agoPRAYERS FOR LEBANON. From the PHILIPPINES.
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@STAYDIVINE11114 years agoI hope all Lebanon recovers well and i hope everyone is safe🇱🇧❤🙏From Japan🇯🇵 5
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@SunnyMTrinh4 years agoFrom USA with terrible COVID-19 Send prayers for Lebanon! 3
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@butterflyeffect21814 years agoI am 230 km across Mediterranean Sea away from Lebanon Beirut and we felt it all the way in Cyprus! Prayers 🙏😔 41
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@96vetements4 years agoPray for lebanon. From the UK. 1
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@LamaSijal1424 years agoRIP FOR THOSE WHO DIED 😟😢💔 PRAY FOR LEBANON FROM -NEPAL 🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵 158
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@khasanbakhromov88324 years agoPray for Lebanon 🇱🇧🙏🏻🙏🏻😢 From Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
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@mrbutterofficial46924 years agoI pray for all people in Lebanon Plsss God protect all of them in Lebanon Love from Philippines 🇵🇭
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@rabihdandachi724 years agoI’m from Lebanon I hate who did this to my life I hate them so much 59
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@RatkoM4 years agoI wouldn't wish this on anyone in the world. Poor people. 500
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@fredt.50114 years agoPRAY FOR LEBANON 🇱🇧 🙏🙏🙏 😥❤ FROM MEXICO 🇲🇽
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@shahidkhansulaimankhel81744 years agoSad news Broke my heart 💔😭😭😭 ... Pray Lebanon From Pakistan 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰... Stay strong 🇱🇧🇱🇧🇱🇧 💪💪💪👊👊👊 5
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@HacksignKT4 years agoAm an American but this is terrible. It's like 2020 is the nightmare you're unable to wake up from... 878
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@rue10524 years agoSending all of my love from the USA. Wishing Lebanon well during this time <3 4
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@jheand.garcia16204 years agoPray for Lebanon 🇱🇧 From Philippines 🇵🇭
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@gilbertmolines76924 years agoPray for Lebanon 🥺❤️ From Philippines 🇵🇭 6
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@sallyjoelly65614 years agoInnalillahi wainnaillahi rajiun Pray for Lebanon 😭😭😭 From Indonesia 🇮🇩 3
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@astorrian62474 years agoPrayers being sent to the beautiful Lebanese people from Ireland. God be with you. You will rise up again, you are a strong people and will pull together.
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@katelofty18864 years agoMy heart is broken i can't stop crying what more 2020 have for us 89
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@violycabigon13874 years agoPrayers for Lebanon 🙏🙏🙏. From the Philippines
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@thephilippinesbiblestudy24974 years agoPls...dear Philippines lets pray lebanon for those who are affected of this bombing! Esp., OFW Filipinos working in this place. 279
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@ElifNurMuhammad4 years ago2
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@ApollonLimassolG14 years agoHeard the explosion here in Cyprus. Our thoughts and prayers are with you neighbors, hope you recover in less than the expected time ❤️ 24
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@seachdamhneamh77714 years agoMY LOVE AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO LEBANON!!💓🇱🇧 3
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@faisalhassan14 years agoThis was really an earth shaking explosion...Rip who lost their lives in this incident.. Pray from kashmir 💓 123
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@rabiaali26424 years agoYa ALLAH REHEM. Pray for them. From Pakistan🇵🇰 34
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@raminbyrainandjasmine75864 years agoPraying for Lebanon,may God protects tou all💖💖💖
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@rukupandey29884 years agoPray for Lebanon 🇱🇧 love from Nepal 🇳🇵
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@jimmyseit9344 years agoMy heart feels for everyone in that building. 184
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@mysteriousgirl80774 years agoI am trembling😭😭😭 this is so heart wrenching..😭 30
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@kenyxlz_96184 years agoLet's Pray For Lebanon💕 From Philippines❤
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@anneadrales21164 years agoPRAYING FOR LEBANON FROM PHILS...♥️♥️♥️Be strong lebanon
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@fovos73594 years agoIm not gonna be surprised if the world ends in 2020 281
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Love from 🇲🇨 2
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From INDONESIA .🙏💪🇲🇨 309
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° Stay Strong
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-From Korea 2
Praying for Lebanon from Slovenia
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Love from United Kingdom 💖💘💕 1
Love from Fiji islands 💟 1
Love from Malaysia 🇲🇾❤️ 63
Love from America 🇺🇸
From a proud Vietnamese 🇻🇳 13
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FROM KEDIRI JAWA TIMUR INDONESIA 🇮🇩🇲🇨 1
from PHILIPPINES🇵🇭
From Philippines 🇵🇭 😢 74
FROM TIMOR-LESTE 🇹🇱
🇵🇭 112
From Nepal 🇳🇵
From Indonesia🇮🇩 🙏🙏 246
from 🇵🇭❤️ 7
Love from Indonesia 🇮🇩❤️
Hopefully Lebanon heals quickly as before 1
STAY STRONG ❤💪
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from MALAYSIA 🇲🇾 6
From INDONESIA🇮🇩🙏🙏 4
Recover soon 😔From Nepal 1
from korea🇰🇷 1
Pray for Lebanon🙏
Love, people of the Philippines ♥️🇵🇭 18
From the PHILIPPINES.
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From the UK. 1
PRAY FOR LEBANON
FROM -NEPAL 🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵 158
Plsss God protect all of them in Lebanon
Love from Philippines 🇵🇭
FROM MEXICO 🇲🇽
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From Philippines 🇵🇭
From Philippines 🇵🇭 6
Pray for Lebanon 😭😭😭
From Indonesia 🇮🇩 3
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From Philippines❤