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| Beirut City |
The blast occurred in the port area of the city on Tuesday. Officials said that many people were injured in the incident. However, it was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.
Security officials, including Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA), said there was a depot of explosives near the port. Another official said there was a stockpile of chemicals in the area.
According to some reports, the blast may have beenaccidental. The National News Agency (NNA) had earlier reported that a fire had broken out at an explosives depot near the port.
The blast was so powerful that residents thought there had
been an earthquake. People shouted and rushed. Many people were injured when
the windows of nearby houses shattered and the building collapsed. The video,
posted online, shows wrecked cars with large plumes of smoke and collapsed
houses. Security and medical officials told at least 78 bodies had been
taken to hospital.
Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan said the blast had
injured many people and caused extensive damage. The Lebanese Red Cross says
hundreds of injured people have been taken to hospital. In the local media,
people were seen trapped under the rubble. An eyewitness said the first blast
took place in a loud voice.
The Lebanese government's coronavirus crackdown, public outrage over the collapse of the economy, and political tensions erupted beforethe verdict in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
Tensions are also running high over Lebanon's border with
Israel. However, Israel has denied any involvement in the bombings.
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