Lebanon Severe explosions, presumably an explosion, resulted in dozens of deaths and at least 3,000 injuries.
At least sixty people were killed on Tuesday in two major explosions in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
At least three thousand injured. The death toll is likely to rise rapidly; in the port area, many people would still be under the rubble.
At least three thousand injured. The death toll is likely to rise rapidly; in the port area, many people would still be under the rubble.
The two violent explosions caused chaos in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday afternoon.
Shortly after a first explosion in the harbor area of the city, at the end of the afternoon, the second explosion of unprecedented magnitude followed in the same place.
Shortly after a first explosion in the harbor area of the city, at the end of the afternoon, the second explosion of unprecedented magnitude followed in the same place.
That last blow has been heard across Lebanon and even on the island of Cyprus.
Little is known about the exact circumstances of the explosions. It appeared Tuesday evening that they were caused by loads of explosive material stored in the port of Beirut. According to the Minister of the Interior, a large amount of ammonium nitrate was stored.
This highly explosive substance, which includes fertilizers, is said to have been seized by customs 'years ago'.
Due to recent tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, social media quickly speculated that it would be more than an accident, but both Lebanese and Israeli authorities deny it.
In the first reaction to television after the explosion, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab spoke of a “major catastrophe affecting all of Lebanon”.
Buildings ripped open:
The port area of Beirut has been completely destroyed. On Tuesday evening, helicopters flew in and out to put out an ongoing fire.
The army was deployed to cordon off the surrounding streets. Many ambulances and fire trucks drove through the debris of ripped-open buildings.
There was also total chaos at the entrance of the Saint Georges hospital a little further on.
The facade of the building was destroyed. Cars and scooters delivered heavily bloodied victims that were bystanders carried to the square in front of the building.
The facade of the building was destroyed. Cars and scooters delivered heavily bloodied victims that were bystanders carried to the square in front of the building.
Doctors threw themselves through the crowd to help them. A few had to be resuscitated. Hospitals across the city are now calling for blood donations.
The material damage is also incalculable. The streets of Beirut are littered with shards of broken windows. Parts of buildings have collapsed, store facades blown open. Cars are under the rubble.
Residents and shopkeepers save what can be saved.
Final blow:
The explosions are the final blow to a country that was already on the brink. Lebanon is struggling with one of the highest public debts in the world and saw the value of its currency evaporate in a few months.
It is estimated that almost half of the Lebanese currently live below the poverty line.
It is estimated that almost half of the Lebanese currently live below the poverty line.
The Lebanese government, therefore, faces the task of not recovering the damage from the disaster from its own people.
In October, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest their corrupt government.
If the government can deal with this umpteenth crisis, the next question is whether grief will turn into anger and possible new protests.
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