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Beirut explosion: at least 100 dead and 4,000 wounded – live updates Beirut explosion: at least 100 dead and 4,000 wounded – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Lebanon prime minister says ‘we are witnessing a real catastrophe’ as search continues for missingLebanon prime minister says ‘we are witnessing a real catastrophe’ as search continues for missing
My colleague Martin Chulov has sent the following update from Beirut:
Beirut has awoken to a new sense of vulnerability this morning the day after one of the most shocking events to have struck the city.
The sound of mountains of glass being swept from balconies and cascading on to roads was a soundtrack to an eerie, fitful night. Ambulances wailed. Building guards sat silently in the dark on plastic chairs. There was nothing much to safeguard anymore, nor much of a will to do so.
Tired emergency workers trudged through the pre-dawn gloom, some holding sledgehammers, others carrying water. A car park in the Gemmayze district had been turned into a triage centre. Orange plastic stretchers, slick with blood, were lined up from one side to the other.
As a ravaged city slowly picks up the pieces, the overwhelming question - how could this happen? - is being asked in evermore strident terms. If this was, as is now increasingly suspected, a catastrophic industrial accident, stemming from breathtaking negligence, who will pay the price?
Politicians, already at odds with vast parts of Lebanese society, have pledged to fix up to a million or more windows shattered in the blast. With their credibility at an all-time low among voters ravaged by an economic implosion and a coronavirus lockdown that is amplifying a nationwide collapse, few seem inclined to believe their leaders.
“If any of them will hold each other to account, I might change my mind,” said a shop worker, Khaled Qudsi. “But you can bet your life that if any of their commercial interests were tied up to this accident, it will be swept away and blamed on a straw man.”
Several countries are now dispatching emergency workers and medical staff to help Lebanon recover from the disaster.
France says it is sending two planes with dozens of emergency workers, a mobile medical unit and 15 tons of aid. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office says the aid should allow for the treatment of about 500 victims. French peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, a former French protectorate, have been helping since the explosions, Macron’s office said.
Jordan says a military field hospital including all necessary personnel will be dispatched, according to the Royal Court, while Egypt has opened a field hospital in Beirut to receive the wounded.
Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek says Lebanon has accepted an offer to send a team of 37 rescuers with sniffer dogs to Beirut. Denmark also says it is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, and Greece says it is ready to help Lebanese authorities with all means at its disposal.
Here are some more aerial images showing the scene of the explosion.
The blast destroyed crucial grain silos at the port, which are thought to have stored around 85% of the country’s grain.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency quoted Raoul Nehme, the minister of economy and trade, as saying that all the wheat stored at the facility had been contaminated and couldn’t be used. However, he insisted Lebanon had enough wheat for its immediate needs. Nehme said Lebanon also would import more wheat.
Lebanon depends on imports for about 80% of its wheat supply, according to Associated Press.
Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab, in a short televised speech, has appealed to all countries and friends of Lebanon to extend help to the nation, saying: “We are witnessing a real catastrophe.”Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab, in a short televised speech, has appealed to all countries and friends of Lebanon to extend help to the nation, saying: “We are witnessing a real catastrophe.”
He reiterated his pledge that those responsible for the massive explosion at Beirut’s port will pay the price, without commenting on the cause, the Associated Press has reported.Smoke was still rising from the port this morning. Major downtown streets are littered with debris and damaged vehicles, and building facades blown out.He reiterated his pledge that those responsible for the massive explosion at Beirut’s port will pay the price, without commenting on the cause, the Associated Press has reported.Smoke was still rising from the port this morning. Major downtown streets are littered with debris and damaged vehicles, and building facades blown out.
Here’s some analysis from my colleague Tom Phillips, former China correspondent, who recalls the devastating 2015 warehouse disaster in Tianjin, which also involved ammonium nitrate:Here’s some analysis from my colleague Tom Phillips, former China correspondent, who recalls the devastating 2015 warehouse disaster in Tianjin, which also involved ammonium nitrate:
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. The same highly explosive compound was also involved in Tianjin, a major port city 70 miles south-east 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, witnesses filmed apocalyptic footage showing the scale of the inferno.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. The same highly explosive compound was also involved in Tianjin, a major port city 70 miles south-east 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, witnesses filmed apocalyptic footage showing the scale of the inferno.
The impact of yesterday’s explosion is clear from this image, which shows the aftermath at the site of the blast.The impact of yesterday’s explosion is clear from this image, which shows the aftermath at the site of the blast.
Hospitals in Lebanon were already struggling with supplies due to the economic crisis. It is now being reported that medical goods, which were being held near to the site of the blast, were destroyed in the explosion.Hospitals in Lebanon were already struggling with supplies due to the economic crisis. It is now being reported that medical goods, which were being held near to the site of the blast, were destroyed in the explosion.
A Red Cross official is quoted by the Daily Star stating that the death toll rose overnight to at least 100, and that more than 4,000 people are wounded.A Red Cross official is quoted by the Daily Star stating that the death toll rose overnight to at least 100, and that more than 4,000 people are wounded.
Beirut governor Marwan Abboud later told a local radio station that more than 100 people remain missing, including several firefighters, the newspaper reports.Beirut governor Marwan Abboud later told a local radio station that more than 100 people remain missing, including several firefighters, the newspaper reports.
“Beirut has never gone through what it went through yesterday,” Abboud said.“Beirut has never gone through what it went through yesterday,” Abboud said.
As is common after major disasters, there has been some confusion over the death toll. A named Red Cross official was earlier quoted by local broadcasters saying that the number of fatalities was expected to reach 100. However, it now appears that the number of deaths has passed this grim milestone.As is common after major disasters, there has been some confusion over the death toll. A named Red Cross official was earlier quoted by local broadcasters saying that the number of fatalities was expected to reach 100. However, it now appears that the number of deaths has passed this grim milestone.
Today’s edition of al-Akhbar newspaper, which shows a photo of a destroyed port with the words: The Great Collapse.Today’s edition of al-Akhbar newspaper, which shows a photo of a destroyed port with the words: The Great Collapse.
From Associated Press’s senior producer, Dalal Mawad:From Associated Press’s senior producer, Dalal Mawad:
Residents, desperate to reach their loved ones, are sharing pictures of missing relatives, as well as phone numbers online. On Instagram, a page, locatevictimsbeirut, has also been set up to try to locate people in the aftermath of the blast.Residents, desperate to reach their loved ones, are sharing pictures of missing relatives, as well as phone numbers online. On Instagram, a page, locatevictimsbeirut, has also been set up to try to locate people in the aftermath of the blast.
Rappler news in the Philippines reports that 12 Filipinos are missing in Beirut.Rappler news in the Philippines reports that 12 Filipinos are missing in Beirut.
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross, George Kettana, has told Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International that there are over 4,000 people injured, some in a serious condition, and that the number of fatalities may reach 100. Some victims are still trapped under rubble, Kettana said.The head of the Lebanese Red Cross, George Kettana, has told Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International that there are over 4,000 people injured, some in a serious condition, and that the number of fatalities may reach 100. Some victims are still trapped under rubble, Kettana said.
This has not been confirmed by officials.This has not been confirmed by officials.