The Lebanese capital on Tuesday was hit by two devastating explosions that resulted in thousands being injured and more than 70 people killed. The Beirut blast caused huge destruction in the city.
Two massive blasts hit the city of Beirut on Tuesday that was felt for more than 200 kilometres across the Mediterranean. With a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, the Beirut blast damaged buildings across the Capital killing about 70 people, 3000 injured and buried under the rubble.
Although the actions that led to the blast are still unclear, earlier reports suggested that the blast was caused by a fire that broke out near the warehouse. Some highly explosive material, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, were confiscated a while ago from a ship and stored at the port. An orange coloured smoke was witnessed by some which is nothing but toxic nitrogen dioxide gas that is caused when it explodes.
The blast is even more devastating for the country as it is already struggling with Coronavirus as well as an economic crisis. The blast resulted in the hospitals filling up beyond capacity while looking for blood supplies and generators to keep the lights on. The army reached the spot and helped battle the fire at the port after the explosion. Reporters of local TV and radio channels read out names of the people who were missing or wounded as there was chaos about the people to know about their families whereabouts. The country was at a 2 day grace period before reinforcing its lockdown and people were therefore outside their homes resulting in high traffic during the blast.
Take a look:
Incompetence kills.
Lebanese Prime Minister says #Beirut explosions caused by an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate left unsecured for 6 years in a warehouse. 6 years! 6 years! #BeirutBlast @akhbar
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 4, 2020
#BeirutBlast
-67 people killed and some 3,600 injured
-Lebanon PM blames "2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate" stored at port
-Trump says U.S. military officials “seem to think it was an attack"
-Explosion happened during grace period before another lockdownVideo via @QuickTake pic.twitter.com/Pc8QYoYITu
— Bloomberg (@business) August 4, 2020
Scene of the aftermath from Beirut provided by friends; astonishing. #BeirutBlast pic.twitter.com/lxNMhpq2jM
— Ed Mihelin (@ed_mihelin) August 4, 2020
A 2 week state of emergency has been declared in Beirut, the city is now a "devastated city" according to the High defense council. #Lebanon #luebnan #انفجار_المرفأ #انفجار_بيروت #BeirutBlast pic.twitter.com/wUjthZ53on
— Luna Safwan – لونا صفوان (@LunaSafwan) August 4, 2020
That was horrifying, Prayers for the Lebanese people, Pray for Beirut, Pray for Everyone Who Lost Their Life Or Loved One.
#BeirutBlast #Lebanon
#لبنان #PrayForLebanon pic.twitter.com/rCN2ZLCCj3— Zabeeh Ullah Baloch (@ZabihBaloch) August 5, 2020
Stop and think about what just happened: The President of the United States just called the #BeirutBlast “an attack” and its barely registering with anyone because everyone is still uncertain if Trump actually meant and understood the magnitude and significance of what he said.
— Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) August 4, 2020
Bro WTF is 2020 man The City of Beirut was blown to pieces #BeirutBlast pic.twitter.com/bT8pPgU3DZ
— XpeCt 🤠🎯 (@ssg_xpect) August 5, 2020
Just a take a minute and pray for the people of #Lebanon May Allah give strength to all of them. We need that reset button to switch back to 2019 😢 #BeirutBlast pic.twitter.com/hRM8l3tiL2
— ROBBERTS™ (@NyumuRobberts) August 5, 2020
Let's Pray for Beirut, Lebanon.🙏#BeirutBlast #PrayForLebanon #prayforbeirut pic.twitter.com/OOCpMuTW2I
— Yᑌᗩᑎ (@hueee_an) August 4, 2020
Please, Pray for #Lebanon #Beirut #BeirutBlast pic.twitter.com/m4JBIXrozU
— God Almighty (@TheJesusMessage) August 5, 2020
it was like a nightmare
we felt as if it's an earthquake then a sharp sound was heard and everything was upside down..all glass shattered and doors broken…
We did not know what was happening :earthquake? Bomb? air strike?#BeirutBlast #Beirut #lebanon #explosion#بيروت #لبنان pic.twitter.com/5BQNvCwDgm— La princesse libanaise 🌹🇱🇧💞 (@HrHtweets8) August 4, 2020
I've made it to a hospital that is now calmer to try and get stitches. One of the ER nurses just apologised to me for a delay while she and her colleagues have something to eat and try to cheer each other up with jokes.They've just spent 8 hrs treating the most horrific injuries.
— Leila Molana-Allen (@Leila_MA) August 4, 2020
They've had 300 #BeirutBlast cases just at this small mountain hospital in the last few hours. They've run out of several things including tetanus shots. And she apologised for keeping me waiting. I want to cry. https://t.co/gDpmIoIviL
— Leila Molana-Allen (@Leila_MA) August 5, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with Brothers and sisters in #Lebanon
Indeed sad and tragic incident!#Beirut #لبنان #حزب_الله #Lebanese #BeirutBlast pic.twitter.com/oeWABwfBBV
— Hamza Sameen Gujjar (@chaudhry_hsg) August 4, 2020
#BeirutBlast : Devastating visuals ; the #Beirut city is still bleeding. Many hospitals & buildings destroyed! #Lebanon #PrayForLebanon 💔 #PrayForBeirut 💔 pic.twitter.com/t2sfJEqYyL
— Troll Negativity (@TrollNegativity) August 5, 2020
TV and radio presenters reading the names of missing or wounded people all throughout the night during the live coverage of the catastrophic #Beirut explosion – hundreds of names. That is something I can’t forget #BeirutBlast. #لن_ننسي
— Sarah El Deeb (@seldeeb) August 5, 2020
Before And After The Blast In Lebanon.
Pray For Lebanon🙏.#BeirutBlast #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/gvBcJyYfAe— Saadi👑 (LAYLLPUR WALA ❤️🤣😜) (@optimisticsaadi) August 5, 2020