Beirut Explosion: at Least 100 Dead, 4,000 wounded

Lebanon is in mourning after a huge explosion in the capital Beirut killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others on Tuesday.

“There are many people missing until now. People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity,” Health Minister Hamad Hasan told Reuters. “We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages.”

"The whole city was shaken by the blast, which began with a fire at the port which exploded into a mushroom cloud.

"President Michel Aoun said 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored unsafely in a warehouse for six years.

"He scheduled an urgent cabinet meeting for Wednesday and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared.

"The country will observe an official period of mourning for three days from Wednesday," BBC reports. 

Officials said that an investigation was underway to find the exact trigger for the explosion. Lebanon's Supreme Defence Council said those responsible would face the "maximum punishment" possible.

By Ana Dumbadze

Source: BBC