DEVASTATION
2700 wounded as explosion shatters homes across city
A MASSIVE explosion caused carnage in Beirut yesterday, leaving at least 50 dead and 2700 injured.
The Lebanese health minister gave the casualty figures. The toll was expected to rise.
The capital of Lebanon looked like a war zone after the colossal blast in the port area of the city. The explosion demolished buildings, blew in windows and collapsed balconies throughout Beirut.
Buildings more than a mile away were extensively damaged.
It followed an earlier explosion nearby which may have triggered the main blast.
Witnesses said many people were trapped in partially collapsed buildings and rubble. A huge cloud of smoke spread through the entire city and black palls were left hanging over its streets and homes for hours.
Walid Abdo, a 43-year-old teacher, said the blast was “like a nuclear explosion”.
Another witness said: “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.”
A third said: “All the downtown area windows are smashed and there are wounded people walking around. It is total chaos.”
Lebanon’s state news agency NNA and two security sources said the main blast took place in an area where there were warehouses of explosives. Other sources reported that fireworks were stored there.
But Beirut’s bloody history of sectarian warfare, and local extremist group Hezbollah’s vendetta against Israel, led to fears the blast was suspicious.
Hezbollah is believed to have tens of thousands of stored missiles ready to be used in another war with Israel.
Bloodied victims of the explosion were ferried to local hospitals, which were soon crammed with the wounded.
An emergency appeal for extra blood donors went out across the city.
Local broadcaster LBC quoted the health minister as saying there was a “very high number” of injures and a large amount of damage.
Lebanese security officials were quick to deny that any type of weapon had caused the blast but admitted that it was caused by explosive material. Israel denied any involvement.
The Israelis have been preparing in recent weeks for a Hezbollah attack and the country’s troops are believed to have thwarted an attempt by the Iran-allied group to plant a bomb near the border yesterday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was ready to provide any support needed to victims of the blast.