The death toll in the explosion in the seaport of Beirut exceeded 100, more than 4 thousand people were injured. This was reported by the Sky News Arabiya TV channel with reference to the Lebanese Red Cross Society.

“We have data on more than 4 thousand wounded, the condition of some of them is assessed as grave; and also about the dead, the number of which can reach hundreds. Some of the victims of the tragedy continue to be under the rubble of the collapsed buildings, ”said the organization's general secretary, Georges Catana, on the air of the Lebanese TV channel LBC.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the explosion occurred on the eve of the improper storage of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate.

“I will not rest until we find those responsible for what happened, in order to bring them to justice and impose the most severe penalties on them, because it is unacceptable that a batch of ammonium nitrate weighing 2,750 tons was in the warehouse for six years without taking preventive measures, which threatens the safety of citizens, ”Diab said during a meeting of the Lebanese Supreme Defense Council.

Following the meeting, it was decided to declare Beirut a disaster zone. In the Lebanese capital, an emergency regime was introduced until August 18, and the responsibility for ensuring security was assigned to the country's Armed Forces.

In addition, a special commission has been created to investigate the incident. Within the next five days, she will have to prepare a report.

President Michel Aoun instructed to allocate 100 billion Lebanese pounds (about $ 66 million) from the budget to eliminate the consequences of the explosion and provide assistance to the victims of the tragedy. Three days of mourning has been declared in Lebanon.

مقررات المجلس الاعلى للدفاع: قرر فخامة الرئيس تحرير الاعتماد الاستثنائي المنصوص عنه في المادة 85 من الدستور وفي موازنة العام 2020 والذي يبلغ 100 مليار ليرة لبنانية ويخصص لظروف استثنائية وطارئة, كما اعلن دولة الرئيس الحداد الوطني والاقفال لمدة ثلاثة أيام pic.twitter.com/B97r9jkdAW

- Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) August 4, 2020

According to Al Jazeera TV channel, the Port Authority headed by Hasan Koraytem bears responsibility for the incident. According to the head of the Lebanese customs, Badri Daher, his department has nothing to do with the incident, since the port is controlled by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

“They are responsible, and I can tell you that this substance shouldn't have been stored there - it shouldn't have been there at all,” he said.

At the same time, the Lebanese TV channel OTV, citing its own sources, said that the national security service had begun an investigation five months ago in connection with the discovery of a large warehouse of ammonium nitrate in the port of Beirut. During the investigation, it was found that the substances in the hangar pose a serious hazard.

In turn, Chief of General Security Abbas Ibrahim said that about 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate were in the port of Beirut before being sent to Africa when the explosion occurred.

As noted by another Lebanese TV channel LBC International, referring to representatives of the security forces, the explosion in the port of Beirut occurred during welding work.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun.

“Russia shares the grief of the Lebanese people. I ask you to convey my words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all the victims, ”the head of state said.

We add that an employee of the Russian Embassy in Lebanon was injured as a result of the explosion; she is currently in excellent condition. The building of the diplomatic mission was also damaged.

"We are not talking about the suspension of work, we are doing it on a regular basis," RIA Novosti quoted Dmitry Lebedev, adviser to the embassy in Lebanon, as quoted by RIA Novosti.

Their condolences and offers of support were expressed in the European Union, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the League of Arab States, as well as in several countries around the world, including Israel.

Thus, the Prime Minister of the Jewish State Benjamin Netanyahu announced his readiness to provide Lebanon with the necessary assistance, as well as to accept the victims for treatment.

“Israel offered to send humanitarian and medical aid to Lebanon through security channels and international channels. It's time to postpone the conflict, ”the IDF said.

  • Footage of Beirut in the morning after the explosion in the port on 4 August

US President Donald Trump also expressed condolences to Lebanon, indicating his readiness to provide assistance, but he called the incident "a monstrous attack." The head of the White House was asked whether he really considered the incident to be an attack on Lebanon.

“Yes, it looks like it is based on the nature of the explosion. I have met some of our wonderful generals, and they seem to feel the same way. It was not something like some kind of industrial explosion. It looks like they think it was an attack, some kind of bomb, ”Trump replied.