Beirut explosion – latest news: Lebanon declares state of emergency as over 300,000 left homeless and at least 135 dead following blast
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Lebanon’s cabinet has declared a two-week state of emergency in Beirut following a huge explosion at the city’s port which sent shock waves across the capital on Tuesday, killing at least 135 people and injuring thousands.
Marwan Abboud, Beirut’s governor, said more than 300,000 citizens had been left unable to sleep in their own homes due to the explosion, which is thought to have been caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was stored unsafely at the port for six years.
It came as ministers agreed to place Beirut’s port officials under house arrest until responsibility for the disaster has been determined and documents revealed custom officials had warned of the “serious danger” posed by the chemical stockpile years before the explosion yesterday.
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Beirut’s governor Marwan Abboud has said up to 250,000 people have become homeless due to the damage in the city, according to Murr Television (MTV) in Lebanon.
On top of the immediate fatalities from the explosions yesterday, the destruction of Beirut port is likely to cause problems for Lebanon for a long time to come - as noted below:
Our reporter, Rory Sullivan, has put together a quick guide below to what we know so far about the explosions in Beirut yesterday:
Turkish aid group helping in search for Beirut survivors
Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is helping in the search for survivors in Beirut following Tuesday’s explosions, with Ankara offering to build a field hospital and send help as needed.
“We've relayed our offer to help” (including immediate work on the hospital) and “we are expecting a response from the Lebanese side,” a senior Turkish official told Reuters.
Mustafa Ozbek, an Istanbul-based official from the group, said members of the IHH group were digging through debris to look for people and recover bodies on Wednesday, and the group had also mobilised a
kitchen at a Palestinian refugee camp to deliver food to those in need.
“We are providing assistance with one ambulance to transfer patients. We may provide help according to the needs of the hospital,” he said.
Pope offers prayers for victims in Beirut
Pope Francis has offered prayers for Lebanon and the victims in Beirut today as the death toll from the explosions on Tuesday stands at more than 100 people.
The pontiff appealed that '”through the dedication of all the social, political and religious elements,” Lebanon “might face this extremely tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing.”
His words came as international aid headed to the city, with countries such as France, Poland and Russia sending medical workers and supplies.
This chart from Statista shows the extent of Lebanon's dire economic crisis before the explosions in Beirut yesterday devasted the country's capital city.
Source: Statista
Officials warned of ‘serious danger’ posed by ammonium nitrate stockpile years ago, documents show
Custom officials warned of the “serious danger” posed by the ammonium nitrate stockpile at Beirut’s port years before yesterday’s explosion, documents unearthed by Al Jazeera have shown.
Lebanese officials have pointed to the chemicals as a possible cause of the blast, which has killed at least 100 people and injured thousands.
The cargo of ammonium nitrate is understood to have arrived in Lebanon in 2013 and custom officials sent at least five letters to judges between 2014 and 2017 asking for guidance on what to do with the chemicals.
A letter from 2016 reported by Al Jazeera today said there had been no reply to the requests for help.
“In view of the serious danger of keeping these goods in the hangar in unsuitable climatic conditions, we reaffirm our request to please request the marine agency to re-export these goods immediately to preserve the safety of the port and those working in it, or to look into agreeing to sell this amount,” the letter said, as reported by Al Jazeera.
There were reportedly three options suggested for dealing with the cargo - exporting it, giving it to the Lebanese Army or selling it to the privately-owned Lebanese Explosives Company.
Our Middle East correspondent, Bel Trew, and deputy international editor, Gemma Fox, have spoken this morning about the situation in Beirut for The Independent’s podcast.
You can find their conversation below:
International troops among injured in Beirut
International troops serving in the UN’s Interim Force in Lebanon are among those injured by the massive explosion at Beirut’s port yesterday.
Bangladesh’s military said at least 21 Bangladesh Navy members of the multinational force in Beirut had been injured, with one of those injured in critical condition at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre.
Bangladesh Navy members have been working in Lebanon with the UN force since 2010 to prevent entry of illegal arms and ammunition.
Separately, Lorenzo Guerini, Italy’s defence minister, said one soldier assigned to Italy's contingent in Lebanon was injured.
Aerial footage shows extent of devastation in Beirut
The full scale of the devastation in Beirut has been captured by drone footage as rescue workers continue operations to search for survivors today.
The blasts, which struck at 6pm local time, hit the Lebanese capital with the force of a 3.5-magnitude earthquake and have left thousands injured.
Our reporter, Emily Goddard, has the full story below:
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