Huge explosions in Lebanon’s capital leave dozens dead, hundreds injured – VIDEOS

The two huge explosions that rocked Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Tuesday left dozens dead and injured, al-Jadeed TV channel reported.

The explosions shook buildings all over Beirut and left shattered glass in most areas, according to the local TV channel.

A businessman named Merhi Abou Merhi has called on the authorities to send teams and save people in his boat that was damaged in the explosions.

It is still not clear whether it was an attack or a regular explosion caused by the chemicals stored at the Port of Beirut.

The Lebanese Red Cross and Civil Defense teams rushed to the area to transfer the injured to hospitals while dozens are believed to be still under the rubble.

Hospitals urged people to donate blood in an attempt to save the injured in explosions.

Explosions at Beirut port may be caused by explosive chemicals, says minister

Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi said Tuesday that the explosive chemicals stored at Port of Beirut may have caused the two huge explosions that caused massive casualties and damages.

The minister was quoted by al-Jadeed TV as saying that the blasts may be caused by the Ammonium nitrate stored since 2014 in the warehouse No. 12 at the port in the Lebanese capital.

“Customs authorities must be asked about reasons behind storing such chemical materials at Port of Beirut,” he said.

Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: MTI/EPA/Vael Hamzeh

Fahmi noted that accurate figures of injuries and casualties were still unavailable. “We are still waiting for more investigations to take place,” he said.

The minister assured that around 80 percent of the fire that resulted from the explosions was controlled.

Local media reported hundreds of death and injuries resulting from the two huge explosions that rocked Beirut at around 6:10 p.m. local time (1610 GMT), shaking the buildings across the Lebanese capital while causing heavy damages.
Pieces of shattered glasses covered most of the areas in Beirut.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for an emergency meeting of the Higher Defense Council to discuss the reasons and repercussions of the explosions.

Source: Xinhua