This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/world/middleeast/beirut-explosion-blast.html
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Explosions Rock East Beirut | Explosions Rock East Beirut |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. | This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — A pair of explosions shook the center of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, damaging buildings in several neighborhoods, causing widespread injuries and sending a giant pink cloud rising from near the city’s port. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — A pair of explosions shook the center of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, damaging buildings in several neighborhoods, causing widespread injuries and sending a giant pink cloud rising from near the city’s port. |
| The state-run National News Agency reported that a fire had broken out in a fireworks storehouse at the port before the explosion. But it was not immediately clear what had caused such a large blast. | The state-run National News Agency reported that a fire had broken out in a fireworks storehouse at the port before the explosion. But it was not immediately clear what had caused such a large blast. |
| Residents of several neighborhoods in East Beirut said their walls had shaken or cracked and their windows shattered. Cars were overturned and many roads were blocked by the debris, forcing people wounded in the blast to walk through the smoke to hospitals. | Residents of several neighborhoods in East Beirut said their walls had shaken or cracked and their windows shattered. Cars were overturned and many roads were blocked by the debris, forcing people wounded in the blast to walk through the smoke to hospitals. |
| At least one hospital was overwhelmed and was turning wounded people away. | At least one hospital was overwhelmed and was turning wounded people away. |
| Videos and photos on social media showed two explosions near the water. | Videos and photos on social media showed two explosions near the water. |
| The first blast sent a cloud of smoke billowing above fires and flashing lights that resembled fireworks. The second, much larger explosion, created a cloud of reddish orange smoke and sent a wave of dust. | The first blast sent a cloud of smoke billowing above fires and flashing lights that resembled fireworks. The second, much larger explosion, created a cloud of reddish orange smoke and sent a wave of dust. |
| In the aftermath, videos showed cars abandoned in the streets and heavy debris littered over a huge area. As the smoke cleared, small fires could be seen still burning near the port. | In the aftermath, videos showed cars abandoned in the streets and heavy debris littered over a huge area. As the smoke cleared, small fires could be seen still burning near the port. |
| Even as the extent of casualties was unclear, officials expressed shock. | |
| The governor of Beirut, Marwan Abboud, speaking on television, could not say what had caused the explosions. Breaking into tears, he called it a national catastrophe. | |
| Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced that Wednesday would be a national day of mourning, the state-run National News Agency reported. | |
| A White House spokeswoman, Alyssa Farah, said President Trump had been briefed on the explosions and “we continue to monitor the situation closely.” | |
| The Lebanese Red Cross said that every available ambulance from North Lebanon, Bekaa and South Lebanon was being dispatched to Beirut to help patients. | |
| If the explosions were found to have been caused intentionally, they would shatter a prolonged stretch of relative calm in the Lebanese capital, despite the country’s worsening economic crisis, proximity to the Syria war, history of sectarian conflict and chronic tensions that have recently intensified with Israel, Lebanon’s southern neighbor. | |
| Less than a week ago Israel said it had thwarted a raid by a “terrorist squad” from Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group that is part of Lebanon’s government, in a disputed border area. | |
| Israeli military officials said there was an exchange of gunfire, which Hezbollah denied. | |
| Israeli military officials say Hezbollah has planted many rockets in southern Lebanon that could threaten northern Israel. But In recent years, Hezbollah has refrained from killing Israelis while Israel has largely avoided killing Hezbollah fighters in Syria, where they are fighting on the Syrian government’s side. | |
| Both Israel and Hezbollah have sought to avoid a war that could devastate Lebanon and Israel. | |
| An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny any involvement by Israel in the explosions on Tuesday. | |
| Alan Yuhas contributed reporting from Philadelphia, Adam Rasgon from Tel Aviv, and Rick Gladstone from Eastham, Mass. |