Beirut blast caused by improper storage of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, says Lebanon President: What we know so far

The aftermath of Tuesday''s blast in Beirut's port area. (Photo: Reuters)

Initial investigations into the Beirut port blast indicate years of inaction and negligence over the storage of highly explosive material caused the explosion that killed more than 100 people, an official source familiar with the findings said.

The prime minister and presidency have said that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures.

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Lebanon on Thursday to offer support to the country after the devastating explosion tore through capital Beirut on Tuesday, drawing in global pledges of medical and humanitarian aid.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that Macron will be meeting Lebanese political leaders. The Lebanese presidency also confirmed the news on Twitter.

مجلس الوزراء تبلغ عن زيارة الرئيس الفرنسي ايمانويل ماكرون غدا الى بيروت لتأكيد التضامن مع اللبنانيين في المحنة التي ضربتهم

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) August 5, 2020

It is to be noted that Lebanon is a former French protectorate and the countries share close ties. 

The blast sent a mushroom cloud into the sky and rattled windows on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, about 100 miles (160 km) away. (Photo: Reuters)

Beirut governor Marwan Abboud, as quoted by news agency AFP, has said that the damage from the port blast has extended over half of the city, with the cost of damage being likely over $3 billion.

He has also said that the current estimated homeless population after the blast lies at around 3,00,000. However, it has not yet been confirmed if he is referring to homeless people or the people who have been left at a state of homelessness after their residences have been damaged in the blast.

The aftermath of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area (Photo: Reuters)

Facades of central Beirut buildings were ripped off, furniture was sucked into streets, and roads were strewn with glass and debris. Cars near the port were flipped over.

Lebanon`s main grain silo at the port was destroyed, leaving the nation with less than a month`s wheat reserves. Aerial images from the scene of the explosion show the impact of the blast, which destroyed crucial silos that contained around 85% of the country’s grain. It is to be noted that Lebanon has already been struggling to house and feed hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria.

An ambulance is pictured amid the damage at the site of Tuesday''s blast in Beirut''s port area. (Photo: Reuters)

Perhaps one of the most disconcerting things after a disaster of this degree is the lack of medical care for the affected victims. Several hospitals in Beirut, which were damaged in the blast, have been freshly inundated with patients with the influx of victims.

In the Gemmayze district, medical teams were forced to triage patients in a car park, while the Red Cross has said it is coordinating with the Lebanese health ministry to set up morgues.

A general view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. (Photo: Reuters)

"It's like a war zone. I'm speechless," Beirut's mayor, Jamal Itani, told Reuters while inspecting damage he estimated ran into billions of dollars. "This is a catastrophe for Beirut and Lebanon."

For many, it was a dreadful reminder of the 1975 to 1990 civil war that tore the nation apart and destroyed swathes of Beirut, much of which had been rebuilt. Post-war reconstruction and political corruption mired Lebanon in huge debts.

A general view shows the damage near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. (Photo: Reuters)

Offers of international support have poured in. Gulf Arab states, who in the past were major financial supporters of Lebanon but recently stepped back because of what they say is Iranian meddling, sent planes with medical equipment and other supplies.

Iran offered food and a field hospital, ISNA news agency said.

The United States, Britain, France, and other Western nations, which have been demanding political change in Lebanon, also offered help.

The Netherlands said it was sending doctors, nurses, and specialized search and rescue teams.