Beirut hit by large explosion

04 August 2020
Government news agency says fire broke out in a warehouse close to the Port of Beirut

The Lebanese government has said that explosions in Beirut on 4 August occurred due to a fire at a firecracker warehouse in the city.

State news agency NNA reported the fire broke out in warehouse number 12, close to wheat silos near the Port of Beirut.

Injuries and severe damage to homes and cars were reported by the NNA in Karantina, a mixed-use, semi-industrial neighbourhood located east of the Port of Beirut.

The Lebanese Minister of Health, Hamad Hassan, said those injured in the explosions would be treated at the government’s expense.

Military and security forces have been deployed to clear the roads for civil defence vehicles and ambulances.

The incident was “like the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings”, reported Al-Markazia, another Lebanese state news agency, citing the governor of Beirut.

An Arabic-language report by the NNA claimed “countless” injuries, adding that Red Cross teams were helping to transport the injured to hospitals.

Al-Markazia reported at least 30 Red Cross teams had been mobilised in the city.

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