Over 73 killed, 3 000 injured as huge explosions rock Lebanon’s capital

BEIRUT — Two huge explosions rocked Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, leaving at least 73 people dead and 3 000 others injured.

The blasts hit the Port of Beirut at around 6:10pm local time (1610 GMT), shaking buildings all over the city while causing massive casualties and damage.

The number of casualties is expected to rise as the counting continues. Local media outlets have been announcing the names of hundreds of people still missing, in the hope of helping their families find them.

The causes of the blasts remain unknown, but Lebanese Interior minister Mohammad Fahmi said the explosive chemicals stored at Port of Beirut may have led to the explosions.

“Customs authorities must be asked about the reasons behind storing such chemical materials at Port of Beirut,” Fahmi said.

Investigations into the explosions are expected to reveal the real causes of the disaster within five days.

Following the explosions, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab immediately declared yesterday a national mourning day for the victims of the explosions.

Meanwhile, Diab urged friendly countries to help Lebanon overcome the repercussions of the disastrous explosions.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun also called an emergency meeting of the Higher Defense Council, which later on Tuesday declared Beirut as an afflicted city while urging the Lebanese cabinet to announce a state of emergency in the city for two weeks.

The council also urged the cabinet to allocate funds for hospitals to help them treat the injured, and to contact all friendly countries to seek support and set up a fund to provide compensations for those affected by the disaster.

It recommended hosting the families whose houses were destroyed in schools, while importing glass and controlling the prices of all materials needed to fix the damaged houses.