Dozens dead, thousands injured in massive Beirut explosion

Israel offers Lebanon humanitarian relief as investigation into cause of explosion continues.

By TZVI JOFFRE, REUTERS
The scene of an explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020. The blast, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city. (photo credit: ANWAR AMRO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)
The scene of an explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020. The blast, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city.
(photo credit: ANWAR AMRO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)
A huge explosion in a port warehouse district near the center of Beirut killed dozens, injured over 4,000 others and sent shockwaves across the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, shattering windows and causing some buildings to collapse.
 
Multiple videos from the area showed a plume of smoke rising near the coastline and then a large blast and shockwave. Buildings throughout the area were damaged in the blast, including media offices and Lebanon’s electrical company. 
Video and pictures from the scene showed windows blown out and debris strewn in buildings and streets throughout Lebanon’s capital. Some buildings in the area collapsed and emergency forces rushed to rescue those trapped in the rubble. Electrical outages were reported throughout the capital hampering search and rescue efforts.

Over 78 deaths were reported as of Tuesday night, and officials expected the death toll to rise sharply as emergency workers dug through rubble across a swathe of the city to rescue people and remove the dead. It was the most powerful blast to hit Beirut in years, making the ground tremble.
"What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe," the head of Lebanon's Red Cross George Kettani told broadcaster Al-Mayadeen. "There are victims and casualties everywhere – in all the streets and areas near and far from the explosion."
 
"I saw a fireball and smoke billowing over Beirut. People were screaming and running, bleeding. Balconies were blown off buildings. Glass in high-rise buildings shattered and fell to the street," said a Reuters witness.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun called the Supreme Council of Defense for an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening. Ambulances were called in from around the country and the Lebanese Army sent reinforcements to the area. Lebanese citizens were asked to donate blood if possible and doctors were asked to come immediately and help treat the wounded.
Hospitals in the capital were overwhelmed with the injured and began treating people in hallways and transferring other wounded people outside of Beirut. Injuries, damage and deaths were reported on streets and in buildings throughout Beirut.
Wheat stores at the port were destroyed in the blast, leading the government to place restrictions on flour sales and develop plans to supplement wheat supplies.
"Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of humanitarian and medical assistance to Lebanon, the prime minister instructed the head of the National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat to talk to the UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov to find out what else Israel can do to help Lebanon," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office wrote in a statement.
Following the explosion, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi conveyed via diplomatic and security channels Israel's offer to provide humanitarian relief and medical support to the Lebanese people. Israeli defense officials denied that Israel was connected to the explosion, which came as the IDF was on high alert along the northern border in anticipation of a Hezbollah attack.
Additionally, Ziv Medical Center announced that it is "experienced and prepared" to assist in any way possible.
"We share the pain of the Lebanese people and sincerely reach out to offer our aid at this difficult time," President Reuven Rivlin tweeted on Tuesday night.
Opposition head Yair Lapid sent a message in English and Arabic saying “I send my deepest condolences to the residents of Beirut during this difficult time and wish a speedy recovery to all who were injured.”
Additionally, IDF spokesperson Hidai Zilberman tweeted that "this is the time to transcend any conflict."
The European Union, United States, Cyprus, Iraq and a number of other countries also offered support after the disaster. Qatar, Iraq and France will send field hospitals to help tend to the wounded.
"The United States stands ready to assist Lebanon," Trump said at a White House briefing of Tuesday's explosion. "It looks like a terrible attack."
The cause of the explosion remained uncertain as of Tuesday night. Initial reports indicated that the fire occurred in a warehouse storing fireworks and video from the scene appeared to show fireworks igniting shortly before the blast. Additional reports claim that a nearby warehouse was storing explosive chemicals that had been confiscated at the port.
Lebanon's General Security director told Al-Hadath that reports that the explosion was caused by fireworks were "ridiculous" and that the explosion involved high-quality explosives. The Supreme Council of Defense stated that over 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate were stored at the warehouse where the explosion occurred, calling this "unacceptable."
An odd smell was noticed in the area after the explosion, according to Al-Mayadeen. The US Embassy in Beirut told citizens to stay indoors and wear masks due to reports of toxic gas emissions, according to MTV Lebanon.
"Due to the explosion that rocked #Beirut Port today, one of our Maritime Task Force ships was damaged, leaving some naval peacekeepers injured. #UNIFIL is assessing the situation & stands ready to provide assistance & support to the Lebanese Government," the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) tweeted on Tuesday.

Sources from Hezbollah told OTV Lebanon that there was "no truth" to rumors that the explosion was caused by an Israeli strike on Hezbollah weapons at the port. Hezbollah operatives were seen at the port after the explosion, according to Al-Arabiya. Al-Arabiya claimed that the explosion occurred at a weapons depot belonging to Hezbollah.

The Iranian Mehr News Agency claimed that US sabotage may have had a role in the explosion, based on radar images of US Navy aircraft in the area.
When asked about his depiction of the explosion at a White House briefing, Trump said that he had met with some US generals who feel the blast was not "some kind of a manufacturing explosion type of event." He told reporters that according to these unnamed generals "they seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind."
Lebanese officials have stressed that the investigation into the incident is ongoing and the exact cause of the explosion is unclear.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah canceled a speech he had planned for Wednesday evening after the explosion. In a statement on Tuesday, Hezbollah called for "solidarity, unity and joint action to overcome the effects of this cruel ordeal and stand again with determination and will to confront difficulties and emerging challenges."
 
Fighter jets were spotted over Tel Aviv after the explosion, according to Channel 12 news. The IDF has been on high alert in the North ever since Hezbollah operatives tried crossing into Israel last week. Late Monday night, the IDF struck multiple targets throughout Syria in response to an attempt by a terrorist cell in Syria to plant an explosive device along the border fence with Israel.

 
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced three days of national mourning starting Wednesday for the victims of the explosion. Beirut was declared a disaster city and state of emergency was declared for two weeks. Diab stated that he "would not rest" until the person responsible for the disaster was found and held accountable.
A significant internet outage was reported in Lebanon following reports of the explosion, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks. It is unclear what caused the outage.

The former home of the late Lebanese president Rafik Hariri, who was killed 15 years ago in an alleged Hezbollah-Iranian attack, is located near where the explosion took place. His son, former prime minister Saad Hariri, was in offices near the site, but was not injured in the incident, according to LBCI.
A number of members of Hezbollah are being tried in absentia at The Hague for planning and arranging the attack in which a truck carrying 3,000 kg of high-grade explosives was blown up next to Hariri's motorcade, killing him and 21 others. A verdict is expected to be issued by the court on Friday.