Beirut explosions: It all happened within seconds! See how the port city went full of tears

In what has been dubbed as one of the deadliest explosions in recent times, the back to back explosions in the Lebanese capital of Beirut had left the tiny Arabic country full of tears and fears as the people have been mourning for the lost ones and praying for the injured while the country's government has been appealing for the international assistance as the explosions have apparently struck the government's mechanism as a horrific nightmare. 

The government has been carrying out an extensive search for the survivors of the blast and the people who got trapped under the debris of the remains. According to the reports close to the development, a pair of explosions had hit the city of Beirut on Tuesday evening and killed over a hundred people and gravely injured more than 4,000. The second blast was much bigger than the first one and the smokes occupied the clouds of the port city while the unprecedented blasts had smashed, shattered, and damaged the buildings across the city. 

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People help a man who was wounded in the explosion in Beirut

 

While Beirut has witnessed a black Tuesday, it woke on Wednesday to witness the city what the residents have never witnessed or wished to, as the pair of explosions have caused widespread damage and anxiety among the Lebanese people. The officials on the ground have revealed that the death toll may climb further as the workers are clearing the debris and searching for the survivors. 

On Wednesday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has called for an emergency cabinet meeting in the wake of the explosions and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared in Beirut. Beirut's Governor Marwan Abboud said up to 3,00,000 people have lost their homes and the city's authorities are on the ground in providing them with food, water, and shelter and the governor's statement has exemplified the severity of the explosions. 

What's behind the explosions? The exact cause of the explosions is yet to be ascertained. The officials have said the blast could be due to the explosion of the ammonium nitrate as 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate were stored in the warehouse at the port for six years. While the ammonium nitrate linked behind the second explosion, the authorities said the first blast may have been in a fireworks warehouse at the port. 

The government said that the investigators will be working out to ascertain whether the blasts have occurred accidentally or intentionally plotted. According to the reports, the blasts have damaged most parts in the north of the city. The explosions have devasted the populated areas, shopping districts and devastated parts of the city which had housed more than 7.50 lakh people. The second explosion was reported to be much bigger than the first one as the former was like an earthquake and the explosion was felt in the neighboring country of Cyprus, which is more than 100 miles away.

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Rescuers evacuate an injured man from the site of the explosion in Beirut - August 4, 2020 - Photo: Reuters

 

What more devastating was the explosions had damaged the hospitals that are treating the patients affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic and following the explosions, the hospitals at the remaining parts of the city have overwhelmingly been accommodating the patients with the Lebanese Health Minister alarmingly said the country's health sector was short of beds with the lack of necessary treating equipment. 

The explosions have added more pain and uncertainty to the Lebanese people as they have already been filled up with series crises from the plummeting economy and its value of the currency, the influx of the refugee from neighboring Syria to the Coronavirus outbreak and for the past few months, the people have been protesting against the government for its mismanagement of the country. 

On the global stage, the country has been receiving support and solidarity from the global countries' aftermath of the explosions. Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has appealed to the countries for help to rescue the lives. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has sent solidarity to Lebanon while the Turkish group has been searching for the survivors in Beirut along with the city's authorities. France has sent rescuers along with 15 tonnes of sanitary equipment whereas Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the victims of the explosions. 

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People run for cover following the blast in Lebanon - Reuters

 

Australia has agreed to donate $1.4 million to Lebanon while the European Union has gathered emergency workers and equipment from members states as countries say 'Stay strong, Lebanon'. Indian Prime Minister Modi said "shocked and saddened by the large explosion in Beirut city. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured". On Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in Beirut said that the staff at the embassy are safe and it also appealed to the Indians living in the country to stay calm. 

Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud said that the damages caused by the explosions could worth $3-5 billion. Prime Minister Diab has called for a day of mourning on Wednesday. The Prime Minister further stated that its unacceptable that a shipment of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate has been stored in the warehouse for six years without taking preventive measures. The reports stated President Aoun has declared three days of mourning from Wednesday. He said no words can describe the horror that has hit Beirut on Tuesday. 

 

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization has sent its solidarity and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had placed his condolences to the victims. According to the experts, Ammonium Nitrate is a common chemical that is used mainly as fertilizer in agriculture and is also one of the important ingredients in explosives used in mining. The more safe storage the better for substance and it could explode when it gets contaminated with items such as fuel or oil and when it explodes, it has the capability of releasing toxic gases including ammonia gas and nitrogen oxides. The explosions poured tensions among the people as they blame the ruling government over failing to solve the country's problems. 

 

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