At least 100 people have died and 4,000 others have been left injured by massive explosions that rocked Beirut on Tuesday.
The blasts took place in the city’s port at 6pm local time (1500 GMT), causing damage to streets and neighbourhoods within a radius of several kilometres.
The death toll has now risen to 100 and there are more victims still under the rubble, according to George Kettaneh, the head of the Lebanese Red Cross.
Mr Kettaneh told LBCI TV on Wednesday that the Red Cross was working with the country’s health ministry for morgues to receive victims, as hospitals are struggling to cope.
"What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe. There are victims and casualties everywhere,” he told broadcaster Mayadeen.
The cause of the explosion
It is thought that the explosion was caused by a fire which detonated 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored at the port for six years.
However, officials have yet to say what sparked the initial blaze.
In a post on Twitter, Lebanon’s president Michael Aoun said it was “unacceptable” that tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a substance used in bombs and fertilisers, had been kept without safety measures in place.
He vowed that those responsible would face the “harshest punishments”.
Statements given by Lebanese officials contradict President Donald Trump’s comments that the explosion “looks like a terrible attack”, which were labelled "wildly irresponsible" by Brett McGurk, former national security official in his own administration.
The damage
Footage posted by residents on social media showed smoke initially rising from the port, before a large explosion went off.
The detonation was so powerful that people a mile from the port were thrown backwards by its force.
There were also reports that the explosions were so loud that they were heard by residents in Cyprus, which is 110 miles northwest of the Lebanese capital.
Videos show that many buildings have been badly damaged by the blast, with debris and ruined cars lining the streets.
Importance of port
Lebanon's port is vitally important to the country, which relies on it as an entry-point for much of its imports.
The blasts damaged the port's major grain silo, which is operated by the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade, and destroyed the wheat stored there.
Raoul Nehme, the minister of economy and trade, said the wheat was now "contaminated" and was unusable, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.
However, he added that the country has enough wheat for the time being.
Food security is an issue in Lebanon, which has seen the price of essential items soar in recent months due to its economic difficulties.
Emergency response
Lebanon’s Supreme Defence Council has advised declaring a two-week state of emergency for Beirut, with military authorities taking charge of security issues.
The president has allocated 100bn Lebanese pounds (£50,717,000) from this year’s budget to the emergency response efforts.
The disaster comes as Lebanon continues to struggle with an economic crisis and an increase in the number of coronavirus infections.
Worldwide support
Countries including the UK, Australia and France have offered assistance to Lebanon.
British prime minister Boris Johnson said the UK was ready to support Lebanon, adding that some British nationals may have been affected by the incident.
“The pictures and videos from Beirut tonight are shocking. All of my thoughts and prayers are with those caught up in this terrible incident,” he said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday.
Junior education minister Nick Gibb told the BBC on Wednesday: "The government is working urgently this morning on what we can do to help the Lebanese government with technical support and of course working with our allies to provide financial assistance."
Meanwhile, France is sending dozens of emergency workers and 15 tons of aid, and hopes to treat 500 victims.
Additional reporting from agencies
