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Beirut explosion: at least 78 dead and 4,000 wounded, says Lebanon health ministry – live updates Beirut explosion: at least 78 dead and 4,000 wounded, says Lebanon health ministry – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Interior minister says ammonium nitrate likely caused at least one explosion amid reports hospitals too damaged to treat patientsInterior minister says ammonium nitrate likely caused at least one explosion amid reports hospitals too damaged to treat patients
The images coming out of Beirut are horribly reminiscent of the destruction inflicted on the Chinese city of Tianjin by a 2015 warehouse disaster that killed more than 170 people and left hundreds injured.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, has blamed today’s catastrophe on the explosion of 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which can be used to make fertilisers and explosives. And the same highly explosive compound was also involved in Tianjin, a major port city 70 miles southeast of the capital Beijing.On the night of 12 August 2015 a series of cataclysmic detonations rocked an area of warehouses where large quantities of hazardous chemicals, also including sodium cyanide and potassium nitrate, were being stored, in some cases illegally.Chinese authorities later claimed the first explosion had been triggered after the heat of summer caused a highly flammable compound called nitrocellulose to spontaneously ignite. Nearby stores of ammonium nitrate then caught fire and exploded.Firefighters who rushed to the scene reportedly attempted to extinguish the initial blaze with water - only to inadvertently exacerbate the situation because of the presence of hazardous flammable chemicals. The majority of those killed were firefighters, including at least one teenager.Such was the force of the Tianjin explosions that they registered as small earthquakes.Then, as now, eyewitnesses filmed apocalyptic, almost surreal footage showing the scale of the inferno.
Here are some photographs of the devastation in the city:
There is confusion among residents over whether the air has become dangerous to breathe.
US Embassy in Beirut released a statement advising that people wear masks and stay indoors, following “reports of toxic gases released in the explosion”. Many people’s windows where shattered by the blast making it difficult to avoid breathing the air outside.
The American University of Aerosol Research Lab’s indicators showed that air quality levels had returned to “Good” by 7pm, however, after showing “Moderate” levels of particulate matter an hour earlier.
Here is our video report on the explosion in Beirut.
If you’re just joining us: Beirut has been rocked by a huge explosion, devastating parts of the city and injuring thousands of people. Eyewitness footage shared widely on social media showed a section of the city’s port area on fire before a huge blast engulfed nearby neighbourhoods, flattening buildings and leaving streets littered with broken glass and debris.
The Lebanese security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, later blamed combustible chemicals stored in a warehouse. Lebanon’s prime minister, Hassan Diab, said those responsible would ‘pay a price’ for the disaster:
Lebanon’s Supreme Defence Council recommended declaring Beirut a disaster-stricken city, declaring a two-week state of emergency in the capital and handing over security responsibility to military authorities, Reuters reports.Lebanon’s Supreme Defence Council recommended declaring Beirut a disaster-stricken city, declaring a two-week state of emergency in the capital and handing over security responsibility to military authorities, Reuters reports.
A council statement, read live on television, said President Michel Aoun has decided to release 100bn Lebanese pounds in emergency allocations from the 2020 budget.It also recommended ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that a committee be tasked with investigating the blast and present its findings within five days to mete out the maximum punishment for those responsible.A council statement, read live on television, said President Michel Aoun has decided to release 100bn Lebanese pounds in emergency allocations from the 2020 budget.It also recommended ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that a committee be tasked with investigating the blast and present its findings within five days to mete out the maximum punishment for those responsible.
People in Beirut appear to be opening their homes up to those who need a place to spend the night – many people’s apartments are now windowless or nearly destroyed:People in Beirut appear to be opening their homes up to those who need a place to spend the night – many people’s apartments are now windowless or nearly destroyed:
Hi, Helen Sullivan here. Thank you to those of you getting in touch on Twitter and via email.Hi, Helen Sullivan here. Thank you to those of you getting in touch on Twitter and via email.
A reminder that you can send news, tips, photographs and messages to my Twitter @helenrsullivan or email: helen.sullivan@theguardian.com.A reminder that you can send news, tips, photographs and messages to my Twitter @helenrsullivan or email: helen.sullivan@theguardian.com.
More on those comments from US President Donald Trump:More on those comments from US President Donald Trump:
Donald Trump was just asked whether he was “confident” the Lebanon explosion was “an attack and not an accident”.He told reporters: “Well it would seem like it, based on the explosion.” The president added he had met with US generals and said they “seem to feel that it was”. “They seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind, yes,” he said.Donald Trump was just asked whether he was “confident” the Lebanon explosion was “an attack and not an accident”.He told reporters: “Well it would seem like it, based on the explosion.” The president added he had met with US generals and said they “seem to feel that it was”. “They seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind, yes,” he said.
Trump’s assessment contradicts the information coming out of LebanonTrump’s assessment contradicts the information coming out of Lebanon
Donald Trump has said the deadly explosion in Beirut today “looks like a terrible attack”.“The United States stands ready to assist Lebanon. We have a very good relationship with the people of Lebanon, and we will be there to help,” Trump said as he opened the daily White House coronavirus press conference on Tuesday. “It looks like a terrible attack,” he added.The president did not immediately elaborate. It was unclear whether Trump’s comments were just his view, or based on an intelligence briefing.Lebanon’s security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, has blamed combustible chemicals stored in a warehouse. The interior minister, Mohammed Fahmi, said ammonium nitrate had been among the materials stored and called for an investigation into how it ignited.Donald Trump has said the deadly explosion in Beirut today “looks like a terrible attack”.“The United States stands ready to assist Lebanon. We have a very good relationship with the people of Lebanon, and we will be there to help,” Trump said as he opened the daily White House coronavirus press conference on Tuesday. “It looks like a terrible attack,” he added.The president did not immediately elaborate. It was unclear whether Trump’s comments were just his view, or based on an intelligence briefing.Lebanon’s security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, has blamed combustible chemicals stored in a warehouse. The interior minister, Mohammed Fahmi, said ammonium nitrate had been among the materials stored and called for an investigation into how it ignited.
Lebanon’s health minister told Reuters that the death toll from a massive explosion in the capital Beirut on Tuesday had reached 78, adding that nearly 4,000 people had been injured.Lebanon’s health minister told Reuters that the death toll from a massive explosion in the capital Beirut on Tuesday had reached 78, adding that nearly 4,000 people had been injured.
“There are many people missing until now. People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity,” minister Hamad Hasan told Reuters. “We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages.”The minister earlier said in televised remarks that more than 70 people had been killed.“There are many people missing until now. People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity,” minister Hamad Hasan told Reuters. “We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages.”The minister earlier said in televised remarks that more than 70 people had been killed.
Here is a video taken from a car at the time of the explosion:Here is a video taken from a car at the time of the explosion:
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has confirmed that 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate are believed to have exploded, AFP reports:Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has confirmed that 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate are believed to have exploded, AFP reports:
The amount of ammonium nitrate would make this explosion larger than the to the 1947 Texas Disaster, when a consignment of 2,300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded:The amount of ammonium nitrate would make this explosion larger than the to the 1947 Texas Disaster, when a consignment of 2,300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded:
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, which lists the death toll from that disaster at between 400 and 600 people.From Encyclopaedia Britannica, which lists the death toll from that disaster at between 400 and 600 people.
Lebanon’s economy minister, Raoul Nehme, told local media on Tuesday that the wheat in Beirut’s port granaries can not be used and that the ministry lost track of seven employees in the granaries, Reuters reports. The minister also told local media that Lebanon will import wheat and added that the country currently has enough wheat until they begin importing it.Lebanon’s economy minister, Raoul Nehme, told local media on Tuesday that the wheat in Beirut’s port granaries can not be used and that the ministry lost track of seven employees in the granaries, Reuters reports. The minister also told local media that Lebanon will import wheat and added that the country currently has enough wheat until they begin importing it.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has sent his condolences and says the UN is actively assisting in the response:United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has sent his condolences and says the UN is actively assisting in the response:
Here is another video of the moment the explosion occurred, posted by AFP journalist Rayane Moussalem:Here is another video of the moment the explosion occurred, posted by AFP journalist Rayane Moussalem:
A ship belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, the UN’s peacekeeping mission to the country, has been damaged in the blast, AFP reports. Some of its personnel are injured.A ship belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, the UN’s peacekeeping mission to the country, has been damaged in the blast, AFP reports. Some of its personnel are injured.
Another ship moored off the port was on fire, too, according to AFP.Another ship moored off the port was on fire, too, according to AFP.