News Desk: A massive explosion ripped through Lebanon’s capital city Beirut on Tuesday. The explosion flattened a large portion of the city’s port, damaged buildings across the capital city, and sent shockwaves across the city.
Germany’s geosciences center GFZ reported that the blast stuck with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 78 people have been killed and around 4,000 wounded in the massive explosion.
The Lebanese Red Cross, health officials, and politicians have urged the people to donate blood to help the injured in the hospital.
According to the Lebanese Red Cross, every ambulance from North Lebanon, Bekaa and South Lebanon was being dispatched to Beirut to help the patients.
Hospitals in Lebanon were already struggling with supplies due to the economic crisis. It is now being reported that medical goods, which were being stored near the site of the blast, were also destroyed in the explosion.
Patients had to be transported to hospitals outside the city as the hospitals in Beirut were at full capacity.
The National News Agency reported that the Public Health Ministry would cover the costs of treating the patients.
The cause of the explosion is not clear yet. Officials linked the explosion to some 2,700 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has declared Wednesday a day of national mourning.
