Beirut: Powerful Explosions Kills Many
On Tuesday 4th August, a powerful explosion happened at a port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. Watch our latest video for all the details.
On Tuesday 4th August, a powerful explosion happened at a port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. Video of the incident shows a large column of smoke billowing and then a large orange explosion is seen and a huge dome-shaped blast wave shoots into the air. The massive explosion at Beirut's port caused damage to buildings and shattered windows in different parts of the city. Sources say more than 78 people have been killed and 4,000 were injured in the explosion. Witnesses and security sources said that glasses in people's homes shattered and balconies collapsed. Videos and pictures shared on social media showed doors ripped from their hinges and ceilings filled with holes.
Lebanon news channel NNA said where the area has many large warehouses storing explosives. President Michel Aoun said 27,50,000 kg of ammonium nitrate had been stored unsafely in a warehouse for six years. But It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze that set off the blast or what kind of explosives were in the warehouses. The government said an investigation will be launched and strict action will be taken. The governor of Beirut port said that a team of firefighters at the scene had disappeared after the explosion. One resident Nada Hamza said, "I cannot believe I am still alive." The country will observe an official period of mourning for three days from Wednesday.
