Huge explosion rocks Lebanon’s capital Beirut: Live updates: Ammonium Nitrate Explosion in Beirut, Lebanon – Israel not involved?
[Al Jazeera says its Ammonium nitrate that was stored there. I looked at some ammonium nitrate explosions and the Al Jazeera video. This might be an ammonium nitrate explosion. Why it was stored there, is interesting and how did it catch fire? Jan]
Hundreds wounded in huge explosion that ripped through Lebanese capital, according to the country’s health minister.
by Mersiha Gadzo04 Aug 2020 18:32 GMT
Hundreds of people have been wounded in a massive explosion at Beirut’s port, Lebanese Health Minster Hamad Hassan told Al Jazeera.
The explosion released a shockwave causing widespread damage to buildings and shattering windows in different parts of the city.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.
Here are the latest updates:
18:31 GMT – Some 400 – 500 people wounded: hospital sources
Local television quoted hospital sources as saying some 400 to 500 people have been wounded, and that all of the hospitals in the capital are overwhelmed as people are brought in.
18:20 GMT – Dozens of people being turned away from hospital
Dozens of people are trying to enter a hospital in Beirut and are being turned away, Al Jazeera’s Timour Azhari said.
"People are discussing about which hospital they can get to across the city. This hospital, the Hotel-Dieu hospital has formally announced that people should stop coming here."
"There are corridors lined with wounded, bloody people," Azhari said.
"There are people crying. The hospital itself has sustained damage; its ceiling looks very precarious, it looks like it’s going to fall apart."
18:17 GMT – PM calls for day of mourning on Wednesday
Lebanese President Michel Aoun has called for an emergency meeting of the country’s Supreme Defence Council, according to the presidency’s Twitter account.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab has called for a day of mourning on Wednesday.
18:08 GMT – Ammonium nitrate stored in the port: Interior Minister
The Lebanese Interior Minister has said that ammonium nitrate was stored in the port, which is what caused the explosion, local media reported.
He said Lebanese customs should be asked about why it was there.
Lebanon-based broadcaster Mayadeen cited the country’s customs director saying tonnes of nitrate exploded.
17:51 GMT – In Pictures: Lebanon’s capital Beirut shaken by massive explosion
A massive explosion has rocked Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, causing many casualties, damaging buildings and shattering windows.
The blast, which flattened much of the capital’s port, was felt across the city as a giant mushroom cloud rose above it.
View the photo gallery here.
People help a man who was wounded in a massive explosion in Beirut. [Hassan Ammar/AP Photo]
17:38 GMT – ‘Cars were thrown three floors up onto roofs of factories’: Al Jazeera correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Timour Azhari reaching the Beirut port shortly after the explosion, said the site looks like a "wasteland" with debris seen everywhere.
"Cars [from the ground] were thrown three floors up onto roofs of factories here," Azhari said.
"Rescue services have not been able to reach the actual site of the explosion yet because fires are still raging. Helicopters are circling the area trying to extinguish the fire," Azhari said.
Azhari spoke to the captain of an Italian civilian ship, the Orient Queen, that was docked near the blast site.
"He was covered in blood after the explosion threw him across a room of his ship. Several people on board were wounded and taken to hospital.
"It really was an incredible explosion. People here are saying that they have never seen anything like it.
Even on the way here the roads were covered in glass," Azhari said.
17:27 GMT – Explosion ’caused by highly explosive material stored in warehouse’: Official
Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reporting from Beirut said the head of General Security, General Abbas Ibrahim, visited the site of the explosion and said it appears the explosion was caused by highly explosive material that was stored in a warehouse.
According to Ibrahim, the explosive material was confiscated years ago.
"We are at the entrance of Beirut’s port, you can see behind me the chaos. Ambulances continue to arrive, continue to evacuate the casualties," Khodr said.
"So far according to security sources, at least 10 people have been killed, but we are expecting that number to rise because we understand from the health minister as well as the Lebanese Red Cross that there has been hundreds of injuries.
"Ambulances have been called from across the country to help in the rescue effort. It was a massive explosion; you can see the fire trucks arriving at the scene trying to put out the flame."
17:25 GMT – Newsfeed: Large explosion rocks Lebanon’s capital
| Large explosion rocks Lebanon’s capital |