Radiant in a long white gown and veil, 29-year-old Lebanese bride Israa Seblani stands smiling and posing for her wedding video. The scene is shattered by a deafening roar, and a powerful shockwave nearly blows her off her feet.

The stunning footage captured the moment when a massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, killing at least 135 people and injuring more than 5,000.

Seblani, a doctor working in the United States, helped to check on the injured nearby, before fleeing central Beirut’s Saifi square to safety.

A day later, she and her husband Ahmad Subeih, 34, a businessman in Beirut, were struggling to process what happened.

“I have been preparing for my big day for two weeks and I was so happy like all other girls, ‘I am getting married’. My parents are going to be happy seeing me in a white dress, I will be looking like a princess,” she told Reuters.

“What happened during the explosion here — there is no word to explain … I was shocked, I was wondering what happened, am I going to die? How am I going to die?”

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Behind her, piles of smashed glass from the blown-out windows of the hotel where she was due to stay littered the ground, along with crushed remnants of flower arrangements that had adorned banquet tables.

Seblani arrived in Beirut three weeks earlier to prepare for her wedding.

Subeih recalled the aftermath of the blast, which officials have blamed on a huge stockpile of highly explosive material stored for years in unsafe conditions at the port.

“We started to walk around and it was extremely sad, it was not describable the devastation and the sound of the explosion,” he said. “We are still in shock … I have never heard anything similar to the sound of this explosion.”

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&amp;v=WzUs_gT4E9A&amp;feature=emb_logo">Watch video</a>

“I feel so sad about what happened to other people, about what happened to Lebanon,” added Seblani. “When I woke up and saw the damage that happened to Beirut, the one thing I said was thank God we are still alive.”

After the blast, she and her husband tried to compose themselves and carry on with their celebrations.

“My husband told me to continue, we can’t stop. I was like okay, why not, we continue. I was not living the moment actually, I was like walking, my face was smiling, my lips were smiling, that’s it, not more. Then we went to have a dinner.”

Subeih recalls entering the damaged hotel on Wednesday to retrieve belongings and passports.

“The scene in the room was unbelievable,” he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beirut-blast-death-toll-climbs-to-at-least-135-three-day-mourning-declared-318461">Also read |&nbsp;Beirut blast death toll climbs to at least 135; three-day mourning declared</a>

He is waiting for a visa to the United States so he can join his wife there. Seblani loves Lebanon, but feels that after Tuesday’s blast, living there is not an option.

She is still trying to find joy in a wedding she took so long to prepare.

“There is a lot of damage, many people were killed and wounded. But also if I want to look at us, myself, my husband, the photographer — how we escaped unharmed, I thank God for protecting us.

“This alone makes me feel optimistic and to keep the joy of the occasion that I came here to celebrate.”

Radiant in a long white gown and veil, 29-year-old Lebanese bride Israa Seblani stands smiling and posing for her wedding video. The scene is shattered by a deafening roar, and a powerful shockwave nearly blows her off her feet.

Radiant in a long white gown and veil, 29-year-old Lebanese bride Israa Seblani stands smiling and posing for her wedding video. The scene is shattered by a deafening roar, and a powerful shockwave nearly blows her off her feet. The stunning footage captured the moment when a massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, killing at least 135 people and injuring more than 5,000. Seblani, a doctor working in the United States, helped to check on the injured nearby, before fleeing central Beirut’s Saifi square to safety. A day later, she and her husband Ahmad Subeih, 34, a businessman in Beirut, were struggling to process what happened. “I have been preparing for my big day for two weeks and I was so happy like all other girls, ‘I am getting married’. My parents are going to be happy seeing me in a white dress, I will be looking like a princess,” she told Reuters. “What happened during the explosion here — there is no word to explain … I was shocked, I was wondering what happened, am I going to die? How am I going to die?” × Behind her, piles of smashed glass from the blown-out windows of the hotel where she was due to stay littered the ground, along with crushed remnants of flower arrangements that had adorned banquet tables. Seblani arrived in Beirut three weeks earlier to prepare for her wedding. Subeih recalled the aftermath of the blast, which officials have blamed on a huge stockpile of highly explosive material stored for years in unsafe conditions at the port. “We started to walk around and it was extremely sad, it was not describable the devastation and the sound of the explosion,” he said. “We are still in shock … I have never heard anything similar to the sound of this explosion.” Watch video “I feel so sad about what happened to other people, about what happened to Lebanon,” added Seblani. “When I woke up and saw the damage that happened to Beirut, the one thing I said was thank God we are still alive.” After the blast, she and her husband tried to compose themselves and carry on with their celebrations. “My husband told me to continue, we can’t stop. I was like okay, why not, we continue. I was not living the moment actually, I was like walking, my face was smiling, my lips were smiling, that’s it, not more. Then we went to have a dinner.” Subeih recalls entering the damaged hotel on Wednesday to retrieve belongings and passports. “The scene in the room was unbelievable,” he said. Also read | Beirut blast death toll climbs to at least 135; three-day mourning declared He is waiting for a visa to the United States so he can join his wife there. Seblani loves Lebanon, but feels that after Tuesday’s blast, living there is not an option. She is still trying to find joy in a wedding she took so long to prepare. “There is a lot of damage, many people were killed and wounded. But also if I want to look at us, myself, my husband, the photographer — how we escaped unharmed, I thank God for protecting us. “This alone makes me feel optimistic and to keep the joy of the occasion that I came here to celebrate.”

Dramatic video captures moment bride's wedding shoot was cut short by Beirut blast | Watch

Israel announced Tuesday night that it had reached out to offer humanitarian help to Lebanon after a massive blast rocked Beirut, killing at least 100 and leaving large parts of the capital in ruins.

Beirut Blasts: Unprecedented show of solidarity by Lebanon's rival, pledges humanitarian aid amid hard times

Countries dispatched&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;medical&nbsp;aid, field hospitals, rescue experts and tracking dogs to Lebanon Wednesday as the world reacts swiftly to a vast Beirut explosion in a nation already close to economic collapse.

The blast centred on the city's port caused massive destruction and killed at least 135&nbsp;people, heaping misery on a country in crisis.

Gulf&nbsp;states were among the first to respond, with Qatar sending mobile hospitals to ease pressure on Lebanon's medical system, strained by the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beirut-blasts-death-toll-climbs-to-at-least-135-three-day-mourning-declared-318461">Beirut blasts death toll climbs to at least 135; three-day mourning declared</a>

A Qatari air force plane delivered hundreds of collapsible beds, generators and burn sheets in the first of a convoy of flights to Beirut.

Kuwait also sent medical supplies as the Lebanese Red Cross said more than 4,000 people were being treated for injuries after the explosion, which sent glass shards and debris flying.

A Greek C-130 army transport plane bearing a dozen rescuers landed at Beirut's airport, itself damaged in the catastrophic blast.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

Algeria said it would send four planes and a ship with humanitarian&nbsp;aid, medical teams, firefighters, supplies and construction materials.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab has called on "friendly countries" to support a nation reeling from its worst economic crisis in decades as well as a coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 5,000 people and killed 68.

As&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;crews hauled survivors from the rubble of demolished buildings, France said it was sending search and rescue experts aboard three military planes loaded with a mobile clinic and tonnes of medical and sanitary supplies.

President Emmanuel Macron is to travel to Lebanon on Thursday, the first world leader to do so after the disaster, as France seeks to swiftly push reconstruction in its former colony.

"France is at the side of Lebanon. Always," Macron tweeted in Arabic.

Prosecutors in France also opened an investigation into the blast, which wounded 21 French citizens.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sent a message to the president of Lebanon, saying she was "deeply saddened" by the blast.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a phone call with Diab, offered Washington's assistance and stressed "our solidarity with and support for the Lebanese people as they strive for the dignity, prosperity and security they deserve".

Cyprus, parts of which felt the blast roughly 240 kilometres, said it was sending eight police tracking dogs and their handlers aboard two helicopters.

From Europe, authorities in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Poland offered an array of assistance including doctors, police and firefighters, together with rescue experts and sniffer dogs.

Italy said it had sent 14 firefighters specialised in assessing chemical risks and damaged structures to provide technical support.

President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, itself battling the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, said Tehran stood "ready to offer medical and medicinal&nbsp;aid&nbsp;and help treat the injured".

The World Health Organization said it was sending trauma and surgical kits from its Dubai base after the "shocking event" that comes at a "particularly difficult time in Lebanon".

"Many hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and people are still looking for the injured and the dead, so it's a very sad day," said the UN agency's emergencies director Michael Ryan.

In a statement, the World Bank Group said it "stands ready to deploy its expertise to undertake a rapid damage and needs assessment and to develop a reconstruction plan as per international standards."

Unusually, neighbouring Israel offered humanitarian&nbsp;aid&nbsp;-- to a country with which it is still technically at war -- via international intermediaries.

In the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Lebanon's flag was projected onto the city hall on Wednesday evening.

Countries dispatched emergency medical aid, field hospitals, rescue experts and tracking dogs to Lebanon Wednesday as the world reacts swiftly to a vast Beirut explosion in a nation already close to economic collapse.

Countries dispatched emergency medical aid, field hospitals, rescue experts and tracking dogs to Lebanon Wednesday as the world reacts swiftly to a vast Beirut explosion in a nation already close to economic collapse. The blast centred on the city's port caused massive destruction and killed at least 135 people, heaping misery on a country in crisis. Gulf states were among the first to respond, with Qatar sending mobile hospitals to ease pressure on Lebanon's medical system, strained by the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Beirut blasts death toll climbs to at least 135; three-day mourning declared A Qatari air force plane delivered hundreds of collapsible beds, generators and burn sheets in the first of a convoy of flights to Beirut. Kuwait also sent medical supplies as the Lebanese Red Cross said more than 4,000 people were being treated for injuries after the explosion, which sent glass shards and debris flying. A Greek C-130 army transport plane bearing a dozen rescuers landed at Beirut's airport, itself damaged in the catastrophic blast. Also see: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline Algeria said it would send four planes and a ship with humanitarian aid, medical teams, firefighters, supplies and construction materials. Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab has called on "friendly countries" to support a nation reeling from its worst economic crisis in decades as well as a coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 5,000 people and killed 68. As emergency crews hauled survivors from the rubble of demolished buildings, France said it was sending search and rescue experts aboard three military planes loaded with a mobile clinic and tonnes of medical and sanitary supplies. President Emmanuel Macron is to travel to Lebanon on Thursday, the first world leader to do so after the disaster, as France seeks to swiftly push reconstruction in its former colony. "France is at the side of Lebanon. Always," Macron tweeted in Arabic. Prosecutors in France also opened an investigation into the blast, which wounded 21 French citizens. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sent a message to the president of Lebanon, saying she was "deeply saddened" by the blast. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a phone call with Diab, offered Washington's assistance and stressed "our solidarity with and support for the Lebanese people as they strive for the dignity, prosperity and security they deserve". Cyprus, parts of which felt the blast roughly 240 kilometres, said it was sending eight police tracking dogs and their handlers aboard two helicopters. From Europe, authorities in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Poland offered an array of assistance including doctors, police and firefighters, together with rescue experts and sniffer dogs. Italy said it had sent 14 firefighters specialised in assessing chemical risks and damaged structures to provide technical support. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, itself battling the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, said Tehran stood "ready to offer medical and medicinal aid and help treat the injured". The World Health Organization said it was sending trauma and surgical kits from its Dubai base after the "shocking event" that comes at a "particularly difficult time in Lebanon". "Many hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and people are still looking for the injured and the dead, so it's a very sad day," said the UN agency's emergencies director Michael Ryan. In a statement, the World Bank Group said it "stands ready to deploy its expertise to undertake a rapid damage and needs assessment and to develop a reconstruction plan as per international standards." Unusually, neighbouring Israel offered humanitarian aid -- to a country with which it is still technically at war -- via international intermediaries. In the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Lebanon's flag was projected onto the city hall on Wednesday evening.

Beirut blast: Emergency aid lands in Lebanon as world offers support

The blast killed at least 135 people and injured more than 4,000 others. A two-week state of emergency has begun.

Lebanon Blast: At least 135 dead & 5,000 injured | Quarter of a million people homeless | World News

The red, white and cedar green of the Lebanese flag were lit up over a Tel Aviv square on Wednesday in a rare show of Israeli solidarity with Beirut as it reels from a devastating explosion.

Israel has been in a technical state of war with Lebanon for generations, and it deems the country's armed Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah, backed by Iran, the biggest threat across its northern border.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 and have traded fire again in recent weeks. But, arguing that "humanity comes before any conflict", Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai ordered City Hall on Rabin Square, named for the late Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, to be illuminated with the Lebanese flag on Wednesday evening.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

At nightfall, windows on the 13-storey building's facade were filled with light in the design of Lebanon's flag: two horizontal red stripes enveloping a wider band of white, with a large green cedar tree,&nbsp;Lebanon's national symbol,&nbsp;at the centre.

The decision drew criticism from some Israelis, including cabinet minister Rafael Peretz, who on Twitter likened it to "raising (an) enemy state's flag in the heart of Tel Aviv".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beirut-blasts-death-toll-climbs-to-at-least-135-three-day-mourning-declared-318461">Beirut blasts death toll climbs to at least 135; three-day mourning declared</a>

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had offered aid to Lebanon after the massive warehouse explosion in the port district of the capital Beirut on Tuesday that killed at least 135 people and injured over 5,000.

Lebanon has not responded to the overture, according to an Israeli defence official, who suggested that Israel with U.N. support could "set up and operate field hospitals on our side of the border and admit casualties from Lebanon".

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared Wednesday a day of mourning and ordered Palestinian flags in the territory lowered to half mast in solidarity with Lebanon. While in Gaza, dozens lit candles to pay tribute to the victims of the blast.

Tuesday's blast at port warehouses storing highly explosive material was the most powerful in years in Beirut, already reeling from an economic crisis and a surge in coronavirus infections. At least 100 people were killed and nearly 4,000 injured.

The red, white and cedar green of the Lebanese flag were lit up over a Tel Aviv square on Wednesday in a rare show of Israeli solidarity with Beirut as it reels from a devastating explosion.

The red, white and cedar green of the Lebanese flag were lit up over a Tel Aviv square on Wednesday in a rare show of Israeli solidarity with Beirut as it reels from a devastating explosion. Israel has been in a technical state of war with Lebanon for generations, and it deems the country's armed Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah, backed by Iran, the biggest threat across its northern border. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 and have traded fire again in recent weeks. But, arguing that "humanity comes before any conflict", Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai ordered City Hall on Rabin Square, named for the late Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, to be illuminated with the Lebanese flag on Wednesday evening. Also see: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline At nightfall, windows on the 13-storey building's facade were filled with light in the design of Lebanon's flag: two horizontal red stripes enveloping a wider band of white, with a large green cedar tree, Lebanon's national symbol, at the centre. The decision drew criticism from some Israelis, including cabinet minister Rafael Peretz, who on Twitter likened it to "raising (an) enemy state's flag in the heart of Tel Aviv". Also read: Beirut blasts death toll climbs to at least 135; three-day mourning declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had offered aid to Lebanon after the massive warehouse explosion in the port district of the capital Beirut on Tuesday that killed at least 135 people and injured over 5,000. Lebanon has not responded to the overture, according to an Israeli defence official, who suggested that Israel with U.N. support could "set up and operate field hospitals on our side of the border and admit casualties from Lebanon". In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared Wednesday a day of mourning and ordered Palestinian flags in the territory lowered to half mast in solidarity with Lebanon. While in Gaza, dozens lit candles to pay tribute to the victims of the blast. Tuesday's blast at port warehouses storing highly explosive material was the most powerful in years in Beirut, already reeling from an economic crisis and a surge in coronavirus infections. At least 100 people were killed and nearly 4,000 injured.

In rare show of support, Israeli square bathed in Lebanese colors over Beirut blast

The blasts in Beirut has taken at least 100 lives. This calamity couldn't have come at the worst time. With an economic crisis looming large - tensions are also high in Lebanon ahead of a verdict in a trial over the killing of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Five videos tell the tale of Beirut Blasts

Before 1975, Beirut was the hub of economic, social, intellectual, and cultural life in West Asia. But, after the Lebanese Civil War - the city has struggled to rise from its bloody past. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Beirut | The embattled Jewel of the Mediterranean

Beirut was supposed to be an economic, cultural and political hub of West Asia. But, the city is struggling to rise from its bloody past.

The city of Beirut hides its charm for the night. That is when the nightlife hotspots of the city come to life. The party never stopped in Beirut. Even when the city was torn apart by a bloody civil war in the last century.

The old holiday inn, with bullet holes and battered walls,&nbsp;still stands in the center of the city.

Beirut, once known as the jewel of the Mediterranean, has become a city of baffling contradictions.

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From 1952 to 1975, Beirut was a hub of economic, social, intellectual and cultural life in West Asia. Most of the Arab wealth flowed through this city due to country's free economic and foreign exchange system, including a banking-secrecy law.

Beirut is well connected via a seaport and airport. Something that made the city a paradise for businessmen. Also for politicians escaping upheavals and military coups.

It is still seen as one of the most liberal cities in the Arab world.

In the 1970s, the city’s french architecture, cuisine and equal rights for women often sparked comparisons with Paris.

Palestinian resistance organizations took refuge in Beirut. After the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, the city served as the headquarters of the Palestinian movement.

This was after the Palestine Liberation Organization was crushed in Jordan.

Beirut was torn apart by a devastating civil war. For 15 years, two groups fought for control.

The Lebanese right-wing parties backed by the United States and the left-wing parties, who allied with Yasser Arafat and the Soviet Union.

The civil war ended years ago. But, Beirut is still struggling to bounce back. Flawed policies and sudden shocks have pushed Lebanon to its worst economic crisis.

There were major protests last year. In 2019, Lebanon’s poverty rate stood at 33 per cent.

The World Bank predicted that one out of two Lebanese citizens may soon live below the poverty line. The people are angry with the political elite.

Unlike several countries in the Arab world, Lebanon is not dominated by one strong ruler. Leading to a fractured political landscape.

Made worse by a system of quotas. There are 18 officially recognized sects. The Lebanese parliament is half Christian and half Muslim. According to the rules, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and the president a Maronite Christian, while the speaker must be a Shi'ite.&nbsp;

The sudden shock of the Wuhan virus pandemic has hit Beirut hard.

The people of Lebanon have enjoyed the finer pleasures of life. Even during political upheavals and civil violence. &nbsp;But -- the prevailing crisis threatens the very existence of the Lebanese way of life.

Beirut was supposed to be an economic, cultural and political hub of West Asia. But, the city is struggling to rise from its bloody past. The city of Beirut hides its charm for the night.

Beirut was supposed to be an economic, cultural and political hub of West Asia. But, the city is struggling to rise from its bloody past. The city of Beirut hides its charm for the night. That is when the nightlife hotspots of the city come to life. The party never stopped in Beirut. Even when the city was torn apart by a bloody civil war in the last century. The old holiday inn, with bullet holes and battered walls, still stands in the center of the city. Beirut, once known as the jewel of the Mediterranean, has become a city of baffling contradictions. From 1952 to 1975, Beirut was a hub of economic, social, intellectual and cultural life in West Asia. Most of the Arab wealth flowed through this city due to country's free economic and foreign exchange system, including a banking-secrecy law. Beirut is well connected via a seaport and airport. Something that made the city a paradise for businessmen. Also for politicians escaping upheavals and military coups. It is still seen as one of the most liberal cities in the Arab world. In the 1970s, the city’s french architecture, cuisine and equal rights for women often sparked comparisons with Paris. Palestinian resistance organizations took refuge in Beirut. After the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, the city served as the headquarters of the Palestinian movement. This was after the Palestine Liberation Organization was crushed in Jordan. Beirut was torn apart by a devastating civil war. For 15 years, two groups fought for control. The Lebanese right-wing parties backed by the United States and the left-wing parties, who allied with Yasser Arafat and the Soviet Union. The civil war ended years ago. But, Beirut is still struggling to bounce back. Flawed policies and sudden shocks have pushed Lebanon to its worst economic crisis. There were major protests last year. In 2019, Lebanon’s poverty rate stood at 33 per cent. The World Bank predicted that one out of two Lebanese citizens may soon live below the poverty line. The people are angry with the political elite. Unlike several countries in the Arab world, Lebanon is not dominated by one strong ruler. Leading to a fractured political landscape. Made worse by a system of quotas. There are 18 officially recognized sects. The Lebanese parliament is half Christian and half Muslim. According to the rules, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and the president a Maronite Christian, while the speaker must be a Shi'ite. The sudden shock of the Wuhan virus pandemic has hit Beirut hard. The people of Lebanon have enjoyed the finer pleasures of life. Even during political upheavals and civil violence. But -- the prevailing crisis threatens the very existence of the Lebanese way of life.

Beirut, once jewel of Mediterranean, now a city of baffling contradictions

The devastating blast in Beirut is yet another blast to the city. The city was supposed to be an economical, cultural and political hub of West Asia but Beirut is struggling to rise from its bloody past. Watch report.

Beirut struggles to rise: City of baffling contradictions

Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab has declared three days of mourning from Thursday as the death toll in the blasts in Beirut rose to at least 137. The explosion at Beirut port also has left tens of people missing and injured more than 5,000 others.

Tuesday's explosion obliterated part of the port and caused damage over a wide radius in the heart of the city, prompting fears the final number of those dead could yet rise significantly.

Lebanese rescue teams continued pulling out bodies and hunting for missing people late into Wednesday night from the wreckage. Officials blamed the blast&nbsp;on a huge stockpile of highly explosive material stored for years in unsafe conditions at the port.

Up to a quarter of a million people were left without homes fit to live in, officials said, after shockwaves smashed building facades, sucked furniture out into streets and shattered windows miles inland.

The explosion was the most powerful ever in Beirut, a city still scarred by civil war that ended three decades ago and reeling from an economic meltdown and a surge in coronavirus infections. The blast rattled buildings on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, about 100 miles (160 km) away.

An official source familiar with preliminary investigations blamed the incident on "inaction and negligence", saying "nothing was done" by committees and judges involved in the matter to order the removal of hazardous material.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/initial-investigations-point-to-negligence-as-cause-of-beirut-blast-source-318389">Also read |&nbsp;Initial investigations point to negligence as cause of Beirut blast: Source</a>

Officials have not confirmed the origin of an initial blaze that sparked the explosion, although a security source and local media said it was started by welding work.

Many of those killed were port and custom employees, people working in the area or those driving nearby during the Tuesday evening rush hour. Some victims were hurled out to sea by the powerful blast.

The Red Cross was coordinating with the Health Ministry to set up morgues as hospitals were overwhelmed. Health officials reported that hospitals were running out of beds and equipment to attend to the injured. 
Beirut's Clemenceau Medical Center was "like a slaughterhouse, blood covering the corridors and the lifts," said Sara, one of its nurses.

Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud told Al Hadath TV that collective losses from the blast might reach as high as $15 billion, including indirect losses related to business.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beirut-once-jewel-of-mediterranean-now-a-city-of-baffling-contradictions-318435">Also read |&nbsp;Beirut, once jewel of Mediterranean, now a city of baffling contradictions</a>

Offers of international support 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.

Turkey said it would send 20 doctors to help treat the injured, as well as medical and relief assistance. Iraq pledged fuel aid, while Iran offered food and a field hospital.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted: "We sympathize with the dear Lebanese citizens and stand by them in the painful tragedy of the Beirut port explosion ... Patience in the face of this incident will be a golden leaf of honour for Lebanon."

The United States, Britain and other Western nations, which have been demanding political and economic change in Lebanon, also offered aid. Germany, the Netherlands and Cyprus offered specialised search and rescue teams.

Two French planes were expected to arrive on Thursday with specialist rescue personnel and equipment, and President Emmanuel Macron was due to visit on Thursday.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said the US government had not totally ruled out the possibility that Tuesday's explosion was an attack, and said it is still gathering intelligence on the blast.

(with inputs from agencies)

Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab has declared three days of mourning from Thursday as the death toll in the blasts in Beirut rose to at least 137. The explosion at Beirut port also has left tens of people missing and injured more than 5,000 others.

Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab has declared three days of mourning from Thursday as the death toll in the blasts in Beirut rose to at least 137. The explosion at Beirut port also has left tens of people missing and injured more than 5,000 others. Tuesday's explosion obliterated part of the port and caused damage over a wide radius in the heart of the city, prompting fears the final number of those dead could yet rise significantly. Lebanese rescue teams continued pulling out bodies and hunting for missing people late into Wednesday night from the wreckage. Officials blamed the blast on a huge stockpile of highly explosive material stored for years in unsafe conditions at the port. Up to a quarter of a million people were left without homes fit to live in, officials said, after shockwaves smashed building facades, sucked furniture out into streets and shattered windows miles inland. The explosion was the most powerful ever in Beirut, a city still scarred by civil war that ended three decades ago and reeling from an economic meltdown and a surge in coronavirus infections. The blast rattled buildings on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, about 100 miles (160 km) away. An official source familiar with preliminary investigations blamed the incident on "inaction and negligence", saying "nothing was done" by committees and judges involved in the matter to order the removal of hazardous material. Also read | Initial investigations point to negligence as cause of Beirut blast: Source Officials have not confirmed the origin of an initial blaze that sparked the explosion, although a security source and local media said it was started by welding work. Many of those killed were port and custom employees, people working in the area or those driving nearby during the Tuesday evening rush hour. Some victims were hurled out to sea by the powerful blast. The Red Cross was coordinating with the Health Ministry to set up morgues as hospitals were overwhelmed. Health officials reported that hospitals were running out of beds and equipment to attend to the injured. Beirut's Clemenceau Medical Center was "like a slaughterhouse, blood covering the corridors and the lifts," said Sara, one of its nurses. Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud told Al Hadath TV that collective losses from the blast might reach as high as $15 billion, including indirect losses related to business. Also read | Beirut, once jewel of Mediterranean, now a city of baffling contradictions Offers of international support 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. Turkey said it would send 20 doctors to help treat the injured, as well as medical and relief assistance. Iraq pledged fuel aid, while Iran offered food and a field hospital. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted: "We sympathize with the dear Lebanese citizens and stand by them in the painful tragedy of the Beirut port explosion ... Patience in the face of this incident will be a golden leaf of honour for Lebanon." The United States, Britain and other Western nations, which have been demanding political and economic change in Lebanon, also offered aid. Germany, the Netherlands and Cyprus offered specialised search and rescue teams. Two French planes were expected to arrive on Thursday with specialist rescue personnel and equipment, and President Emmanuel Macron was due to visit on Thursday. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said the US government had not totally ruled out the possibility that Tuesday's explosion was an attack, and said it is still gathering intelligence on the blast. (with inputs from agencies)

Beirut blast death toll climbs to at least 137; three-day mourning declared

As residents in Lebanon's capital Beirut woke up to find death and destruction in their city with several dead and hundreds still being dug out from the rubble, the ancient city has been set to ruin amid civil unrest and large scale turmoil.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosion-in-beirut-killed-more-than-100-people-toll-expected-to-go-up-lebanese-red-cross-318276">Also Read:&nbsp;Explosion in Beirut kills more than 100 people, toll expected to go up</a>

The civil war which started in 1975 and lasted for nearly 15 years tore apart the city, destroying its secular and cosmopolitan fabric. The exit of French colonials and the resulting shift in demographic of the city resulted in clashes&nbsp;between Palestinian forces led by the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) and between Arabs and Muslim Lebanese factions as Isreal and Syria stepped into the devastation.

Watch:

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Although peace was brokered in 1990-91 between various factions but tensions continued to simmer between Sunnis and Shias. During the 80s, Beirut witnessed large scale devastation as Israel launched attacks on PLO bases in Lebanon with support of local militias as rampant hostage-taking and violence overtook the city.

<img alt="Beirut" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c75fde9d-b36b-4daa-bde5-de7f154f8ad8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/BeirutC.jpg" />

Israeli forces first drove through eastern Beirut and then from mid-1982 Israeli forces lay siege outside Beirut even as the United States called on the PLO to withdraw from Lebanon. The situation was made worse with sectarian conflict with refugees becoming casualties in an all-out war with no end.

The faction-ridden city has now been split into various groups even as a ceasefire was brokered in 2006 in the Israeli-Lebanese conflict. With lakhs killed and several hundred displaced and abandoned, Beirut still struggles with the scars of the civil war.

<img alt="Beirut" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8100d54-0795-4e92-9b0d-674fbd55fd56" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Beirut1.jpg" />

After the blasts ripped through the city, Israeli officials said they had nothing to do with it even as Iran-backed Hezbollah&nbsp;also offered support with other countries including Saudi Arabia and Cyprus offering medical aid to residents.

The city which has been reeling in economic hardships and the recent surge in coronavirus cases has now been laid to waste as blasts occurred at port warehouses storing highly explosive material.

President Michel Aoun said that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate&nbsp;used in fertilisers and bombs&nbsp;had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures.&nbsp;

No group has yet taken responsibility for the blasts even as the city battles to come to grip with the latest massacre. 
&nbsp;

As residents in Lebanon's capital Beirut woke up to find death and destruction in their city with several dead and hundreds still being dug out from the rubble, the ancient city has been set to ruin amid civil unrest and large scale turmoil.

As residents in Lebanon's capital Beirut woke up to find death and destruction in their city with several dead and hundreds still being dug out from the rubble, the ancient city has been set to ruin amid civil unrest and large scale turmoil. Also Read: Explosion in Beirut kills more than 100 people, toll expected to go up The civil war which started in 1975 and lasted for nearly 15 years tore apart the city, destroying its secular and cosmopolitan fabric. The exit of French colonials and the resulting shift in demographic of the city resulted in clashes between Palestinian forces led by the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) and between Arabs and Muslim Lebanese factions as Isreal and Syria stepped into the devastation. Watch: Although peace was brokered in 1990-91 between various factions but tensions continued to simmer between Sunnis and Shias. During the 80s, Beirut witnessed large scale devastation as Israel launched attacks on PLO bases in Lebanon with support of local militias as rampant hostage-taking and violence overtook the city. Israeli forces first drove through eastern Beirut and then from mid-1982 Israeli forces lay siege outside Beirut even as the United States called on the PLO to withdraw from Lebanon. The situation was made worse with sectarian conflict with refugees becoming casualties in an all-out war with no end. The faction-ridden city has now been split into various groups even as a ceasefire was brokered in 2006 in the Israeli-Lebanese conflict. With lakhs killed and several hundred displaced and abandoned, Beirut still struggles with the scars of the civil war. After the blasts ripped through the city, Israeli officials said they had nothing to do with it even as Iran-backed Hezbollah also offered support with other countries including Saudi Arabia and Cyprus offering medical aid to residents. The city which has been reeling in economic hardships and the recent surge in coronavirus cases has now been laid to waste as blasts occurred at port warehouses storing highly explosive material. President Michel Aoun 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. No group has yet taken responsibility for the blasts even as the city battles to come to grip with the latest massacre.

Beirut: Lebanon's capital scarred amid civil war and violence

Two enormous explosions devastated Beirut's port on Tuesday, leaving at least 73 people dead and thousands injured.

World leaders pledge to help Lebanon | Beirut explosions | PM Modi | Donald Trump

The massive explosion in Beirut's Lebanon killing at least 100 people and injuring thousands. The death toll is expected to rise even further. Watch report.

Lebanon Blast: Massive explosion rips through Beirut, Ammonium Nitrate cache triggers blast

WION Dispatch: Hospitals in Beirut overwhelmed | Lebanon blast

Fineprint: Deadliest explosion due to Ammonium Nitrate in Beirut

Massive explosion rips through Beirut | 78 killed & 4,000+ injured in blast | Lebanon

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

Initial investigations indicate years of inaction and negligence over the storage of highly explosive material in Beirut port caused the blast that killed over 100 people on Tuesday, an official source familiar with the findings said. The prime minister and presidency said on Tuesday that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures. "It is negligence," the official source told Reuters, adding that the storage safety issue had been before several committees and judges and "nothing was done" to issue an order to remove or dispose of the highly combustible material. Also read: Beirut blasts: Over 100 killed as PM Hassan Diab vows those responsible will 'pay the price The source said a fire had started at warehouse 9 of the port and spread to warehouse 12, where the ammonium nitrate was stored. Tuesday's explosion was the most powerful ever suffered by Beirut, a city is still scarred by civil war three decades ago and reeling from a deep financial crisis rooted in decades of corruption and economic mismanagement. Badri Daher, Director General of Lebanese Customs, told broadcaster LBCI on Wednesday that customs had sent six documents to the judiciary warning that the material posed a danger. "We requested that it be re-exported but that did not happen. We leave it to the experts and those concerned to determine why," Daher said. Another source close to a port employee said a team that inspected the ammonium nitrate six months ago warned that if it was not moved it would "blow up all of Beirut". According to two documents seen by Reuters, Lebanese Customs had asked the judiciary in 2016 and 2017 to ask the "concerned maritime agency" to re-export or approve the sale of the ammonium nitrate, removed from the a cargo vessel, Rhosus, and deposited in warehouse 12, to ensure port safety. One of the documents cited similar requests in 2014 and 2015. Also read: Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up: Lebanese Red Cross "A local and international investigation needs to be conducted into the incident, given the scale and the circumstances under which these goods were brought into the ports," said Ghassan Hasbani, former deputy prime minister and a member of the Lebanese Forces party. Shiparrested.com, an industry network dealing with legal cases, had said in a 2015 report that the Rhosus, sailing under a Moldovan flag, docked in Beirut in September 2013 when it had technical problems while sailing from Georgia to Mozambique with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. It said that, upon inspection, the vessel was forbidden from sailing and shortly afterwards it was abandoned by its owners, leading to various creditors coming forward with legal claims. "Owing to the risks associated with retaining the ammonium nitrate on board the vessel, the port authorities discharged the cargo onto the port's warehouses," it added.

Initial investigations point to negligence as cause of Beirut blast: Source

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Beirut Thursday to "meet all political actors" following the blasts that devastated the Lebanese capital Beirut, the French presidency said.

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Beirut Thursday to "meet all political actors" following the blasts that devastated the Lebanese capital Beirut, the French presidency said. Macron will meet his counterpart Michel Aoun, whom he called late Tuesday, as well as Prime Minister Hassan Diab, the Elysee announced as France prepared to send three planes with search and rescue personnel and medical equipment to the ravaged city. Macron's office said France would send 55 security personnel to Lebanon and 6 tonnes of health equipment, while around 10 emergency doctors would also fly to Beirut. Also read: Trump promises to assist Lebanon, calls the Beirut explosion an 'attack' "France is always on the side of Lebanon and the Lebanese people. It is ready to offer assistance depending on the needs expressed by Lebanese authorities," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Twitter. Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is helping in the search for survivors, digging through debris to look for people and recover bodies. The group has also mobilised a kitchen at a Palestinian refugee camp to deliver food to those in need, said Mustafa Ozbek, an Istanbul-based IHH official. Also read: Beirut blasts: Over 100 killed as PM Hassan Diab vows those responsible will 'pay the price' "We are providing assistance with one ambulance to transfer patients. We may provide help according to the needs of the hospital," he said. Kuwait, Iran, Russia, Netherlands and Gulf states among those aiding Beirut after the blast.

French President Macron to meet Lebanon counterpart, PM on Thursday

Lebanon economy minister on Wednesday said that the country's main grain silo at Beirut port was destroyed in yesterday's devastating blast along with the wheat inside, leaving the nation with less than a month's reserves of the grain although other vessels with supplies are on the way.

Lebanon economy minister on Wednesday said that the country's main grain silo at Beirut port was destroyed in yesterday's devastating blast along with the wheat inside, leaving the nation with less than a month's reserves of the grain although other vessels with supplies are on the way. Reuters report quoted Raoul Nehme as saying that Lebanon needed reserves for at least three months to ensure food security and was looking at other storage areas. The reserves now stood at "a bit less than a month", he said. Also read: Beirut blasts: Over 100 killed as PM Hassan Diab vows those responsible will 'pay the price' The explosion was the most powerful ever to rip through Beirut, leaving the port district a wreck of mangled remains. The blast also disabled the main entry port for imports to feed a nation of more than 6 million people. The Beirut silo was capable of holding 120,000 tonnes of grain, said Ahmed Tamer, the director of the port of Tripoli, Lebanon's second biggest city. The port in Tripoli, Lebanon's second biggest port, is not equipped with grain storage facilities but wheat could be transferred to warehouses 2 km (about one mile) away, he said. Also read: Ammonium nitrate: Fertilizer behind many industrial accidents At the time of the blast, the Beirut silo held no more than 15,000 tonnes of wheat as some millers had unloaded cargoes directly because of a delay in issuing letters of credit for payment, Ahmed Hattit, the head of the wheat importers union, told the local Al-Akhbar newspaper. Hattit said existing reserves of flour were sufficient to cover market needs for a month and a half and said there were four ships carrying cargoes totalling 28,000 tonnes of wheat that had not docked at the port yet. Lebanon is trying to immediately transfer four vessels carrying 25,000 tonnes of flour to the port in Tripoli, an economy ministry official told news channel LBCI. (With inputs from Reuters)

After blast, Lebanon has less than a month's reserves of grain, minister says

The death toll in blasts in Beirut crossed 100 on Wednesday&nbsp;as Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those behind the "catastrophe will pay the price".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosion-in-beirut-killed-more-than-100-people-toll-expected-to-go-up-lebanese-red-cross-318276">Also Read:&nbsp;Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up</a>

The blast which was reportedly caused by a fire in a warehouse where 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was left unsecured created a mushroom-shaped explosion drawing up visions of a nuclear-like disaster.

"I think there are between 250,000 and 300,000 people who are now without homes," Beirut governor Marwan Abboud said while informing that damage to property was between $3&nbsp;billion to&nbsp;$5&nbsp;billion.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312">See Pics:&nbsp;Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting country's lifeline</a>

Several countries including Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia promised medical aid even as firefighters and aid workers continued to pull the injured out of the vast rubble.

Watch:

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France said it will send two military planes to Lebanon with search and rescue experts including &nbsp;15 tonnes of sanitary equipment and a mobile clinic equipped to treat 500 people.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in a message said: "Tehran is ready to offer medical and medicinal aid and help treat the injured and other assistance," while offering condolences.

<img alt="Beirut" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b7c6ab1-402b-4eee-9455-860f64e62084" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Beirut5.jpg" />

Iran's Red Crescent Society said it would send nine tonnes of food aid including medical supplies to Lebanon. Amid the confusion, rescuers continued to search for survivors as thousands were sent to hospitals across the city already burdened by the coronavirus epidemic.

Officials said the toll was expected to rise even further as bodies were still being dug out from the rubble with several port and custom employees among those killed in&nbsp;the blasts.

The death toll in blasts in Beirut crossed 100 on Wednesday as Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those behind the "catastrophe will pay the price". Also Read: Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up The blast which was reportedly caused by a fire in a warehouse where 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was left unsecured created a mushroom-shaped explosion drawing up visions of a nuclear-like disaster.

The death toll in blasts in Beirut crossed 100 on Wednesday as Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those behind the "catastrophe will pay the price". Also Read: Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up The blast which was reportedly caused by a fire in a warehouse where 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was left unsecured created a mushroom-shaped explosion drawing up visions of a nuclear-like disaster. "I think there are between 250,000 and 300,000 people who are now without homes," Beirut governor Marwan Abboud said while informing that damage to property was between $3 billion to $5 billion. See Pics: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting country's lifeline Several countries including Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia promised medical aid even as firefighters and aid workers continued to pull the injured out of the vast rubble. Watch: France said it will send two military planes to Lebanon with search and rescue experts including 15 tonnes of sanitary equipment and a mobile clinic equipped to treat 500 people. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in a message said: "Tehran is ready to offer medical and medicinal aid and help treat the injured and other assistance," while offering condolences. Iran's Red Crescent Society said it would send nine tonnes of food aid including medical supplies to Lebanon. Amid the confusion, rescuers continued to search for survivors as thousands were sent to hospitals across the city already burdened by the coronavirus epidemic. Officials said the toll was expected to rise even further as bodies were still being dug out from the rubble with several port and custom employees among those killed in the blasts.

Beirut blasts: Over 100 killed as PM Hassan Diab vows those responsible will 'pay the price'

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said caused the devastating&nbsp;Beirut&nbsp;blast, is an odorless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades.&nbsp;

These include notably at a Texas fertilizer plant in 2013 that killed 15 and was ruled deliberate, and another at a chemical plant in Toulouse, France in 2001 that killed 31 people but was accidental.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312" hreflang="en">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

When combined with fuel oils, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used in the construction industry, but also by insurgent groups such as the Taliban for improvised explosives.

Two tonnes of it was used to create the bomb in the 1995 Oklahoma City attack that destroyed a federal building, leaving 168 people dead.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312" hreflang="en">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored for years in a&nbsp;Beirut&nbsp;portside warehouse had blown up, killing dozens of people and causing widespread damage to the Lebanese capital.

In agriculture, ammonium nitrate fertilizer is applied in granule form and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen, which is key to plant growth,&nbsp;to be released into the soil.

However, under normal storage conditions and without very high heat, it is difficult to ignite ammonium nitrate, Jimmie Oxley, a chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island, told AFP.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosion-in-beirut-killed-more-than-100-people-toll-expected-to-go-up-lebanese-red-cross-318276" hreflang="en">Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up: Lebanese Red Cross</a>

"If you look at the video (of the&nbsp;Beirut&nbsp;explosion), you saw the black smoke, you saw the red smoke, that was an incomplete reaction," she said.&nbsp;

"I am assuming that there was a small explosion that instigated the reaction of the ammonium nitrate, whether that small explosion was an accident or something on purpose I haven't heard yet."

That's because ammonium nitrate is an oxidizer, it intensifies combustion and allows other substances to ignite more readily, but is not itself very combustible.

For these reasons, there are generally very strict rules about where it can be stored: for example, it must be kept away from fuels and sources of heat.

In fact, many countries in the European Union require that calcium carbonate to be added to ammonium nitrate to create calcium ammonium nitrate, which is safer.

In the United States, regulations were tightened significantly after the Oklahoma City attack.&nbsp;

Under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, for example, facilities that store more than 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate are subject to inspections.

Despite its dangers, Oxley said legitimate uses of ammonium nitrate in agriculture and construction have made it indispensable.

"We wouldn't have this modern world without explosives, and we wouldn't feed the population we have today without ammonium nitrate fertilizer," she said.

"We need ammonium nitrate, we just need to pay good attention to what we're doing with it."

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said caused the devastating Beirut blast, is an odorless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades.

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said caused the devastating Beirut blast, is an odorless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades. These include notably at a Texas fertilizer plant in 2013 that killed 15 and was ruled deliberate, and another at a chemical plant in Toulouse, France in 2001 that killed 31 people but was accidental. Also see: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline When combined with fuel oils, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used in the construction industry, but also by insurgent groups such as the Taliban for improvised explosives. Two tonnes of it was used to create the bomb in the 1995 Oklahoma City attack that destroyed a federal building, leaving 168 people dead. Also read: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored for years in a Beirut portside warehouse had blown up, killing dozens of people and causing widespread damage to the Lebanese capital. In agriculture, ammonium nitrate fertilizer is applied in granule form and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen, which is key to plant growth, to be released into the soil. However, under normal storage conditions and without very high heat, it is difficult to ignite ammonium nitrate, Jimmie Oxley, a chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island, told AFP. Also read: Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up: Lebanese Red Cross "If you look at the video (of the Beirut explosion), you saw the black smoke, you saw the red smoke, that was an incomplete reaction," she said. "I am assuming that there was a small explosion that instigated the reaction of the ammonium nitrate, whether that small explosion was an accident or something on purpose I haven't heard yet." That's because ammonium nitrate is an oxidizer, it intensifies combustion and allows other substances to ignite more readily, but is not itself very combustible. For these reasons, there are generally very strict rules about where it can be stored: for example, it must be kept away from fuels and sources of heat. In fact, many countries in the European Union require that calcium carbonate to be added to ammonium nitrate to create calcium ammonium nitrate, which is safer. In the United States, regulations were tightened significantly after the Oklahoma City attack. Under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, for example, facilities that store more than 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate are subject to inspections. Despite its dangers, Oxley said legitimate uses of ammonium nitrate in agriculture and construction have made it indispensable. "We wouldn't have this modern world without explosives, and we wouldn't feed the population we have today without ammonium nitrate fertilizer," she said. "We need ammonium nitrate, we just need to pay good attention to what we're doing with it."

Ammonium nitrate: Fertilizer behind many industrial accidents

Close allies and traditional adversaries of Lebanon paid tribute on Tuesday to the victims of massive, deadly twin blasts in&nbsp;Beirut, as condolences and offers of help poured in.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab called on "friendly countries" to support a country already reeling from its worst economic crisis in decades and the coronavirus pandemic.

UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed his "deepest condolences ... following the horrific explosions in&nbsp;Beirut" which he said had also injured some United Nations personnel.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312" hreflang="en">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

US President Donald Trump said "it looks like a terrible attack" and that US generals had told him that the powerful explosions appeared to have been caused by a "bomb of some kind", without offering evidence.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that "we are monitoring and stand ready to assist the people of Lebanon as they recover from this horrible tragedy".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beirut-lebanons-capital-scarred-amid-civil-war-and-violence-318281" hreflang="en">Beirut: Lebanon's capital scarred amid civil war and violence</a>

In the region, Gulf&nbsp;nations were among the first to react, with Qatar promising to send field hospitals to support the medical response.&nbsp;

Qatar's ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani wished "a speedy recovery for the injured," while the United Arab Emirates' Vice President and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, tweeted "our condolences to our beloved people in Lebanon."

Kuwait said it would also send emergency medical aid.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosion-in-beirut-killed-more-than-100-people-toll-expected-to-go-up-lebanese-red-cross-318276" hreflang="en">Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up: Lebanese Red Cross</a>

Egypt expressed "deep concern" at the destruction, and Arab League chief Ahmed Aboulgheit offered condolences, stressing "the importance of finding the truth about the explosions".

And unusually, neighbouring Israel offered humanitarian aid, to a country with which it is still technically at war.

"Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, on behalf of the State of Israel, have offered the Lebanese government, via international intermediaries, medical and humanitarian aid, as well as immediate emergency assistance," a statement read.

'Stay strong, Lebanon'&nbsp;

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Amman was ready to provide any help Lebanon needed, while Iran said it was "fully prepared to render assistance in any way necessary".

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the great and resilient people of Lebanon," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. "Stay strong, Lebanon."

Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad wrote to Lebanese President Michel Aoun that "on behalf of the Syrian Arab people, we extend our sincere condolences to you and the Lebanese people".

Outside the region, President Vladimir Putin said that "Russia shares the grief of the Lebanese people," according to a Kremlin statement.

"I ask you to convey words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all affected."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the country was "ready to provide assistance according to the needs expressed by the Lebanese authorities".

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson&nbsp;called the pictures and videos from&nbsp;Beirut&nbsp;"shocking".

"All of my thoughts and prayers are with those caught up in this terrible incident," he wrote on Twitter. "The UK is ready to provide support in any way we can, including to those British nationals affected."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media to say "we think of all those who were injured in this tragic explosion, as well as those who are trying to find a friend or family member or who have lost a loved one. We're ready to help you."

Close allies and traditional adversaries of Lebanon paid tribute on Tuesday to the victims of massive, deadly twin blasts in Beirut, as condolences and offers of help poured in.

Close allies and traditional adversaries of Lebanon paid tribute on Tuesday to the victims of massive, deadly twin blasts in Beirut, as condolences and offers of help poured in. Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab called on "friendly countries" to support a country already reeling from its worst economic crisis in decades and the coronavirus pandemic. UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed his "deepest condolences ... following the horrific explosions in Beirut" which he said had also injured some United Nations personnel. Also see: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline US President Donald Trump said "it looks like a terrible attack" and that US generals had told him that the powerful explosions appeared to have been caused by a "bomb of some kind", without offering evidence. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that "we are monitoring and stand ready to assist the people of Lebanon as they recover from this horrible tragedy". Also read: Beirut: Lebanon's capital scarred amid civil war and violence In the region, Gulf nations were among the first to react, with Qatar promising to send field hospitals to support the medical response. Qatar's ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani wished "a speedy recovery for the injured," while the United Arab Emirates' Vice President and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, tweeted "our condolences to our beloved people in Lebanon." Kuwait said it would also send emergency medical aid. Also read: Explosion in Beirut killed more than 100 people, toll expected to go up: Lebanese Red Cross Egypt expressed "deep concern" at the destruction, and Arab League chief Ahmed Aboulgheit offered condolences, stressing "the importance of finding the truth about the explosions". And unusually, neighbouring Israel offered humanitarian aid, to a country with which it is still technically at war. "Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, on behalf of the State of Israel, have offered the Lebanese government, via international intermediaries, medical and humanitarian aid, as well as immediate emergency assistance," a statement read. 'Stay strong, Lebanon' Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Amman was ready to provide any help Lebanon needed, while Iran said it was "fully prepared to render assistance in any way necessary". "Our thoughts and prayers are with the great and resilient people of Lebanon," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. "Stay strong, Lebanon." Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad wrote to Lebanese President Michel Aoun that "on behalf of the Syrian Arab people, we extend our sincere condolences to you and the Lebanese people". Outside the region, President Vladimir Putin said that "Russia shares the grief of the Lebanese people," according to a Kremlin statement. "I ask you to convey words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all affected." French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the country was "ready to provide assistance according to the needs expressed by the Lebanese authorities". Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the pictures and videos from Beirut "shocking". "All of my thoughts and prayers are with those caught up in this terrible incident," he wrote on Twitter. "The UK is ready to provide support in any way we can, including to those British nationals affected." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media to say "we think of all those who were injured in this tragic explosion, as well as those who are trying to find a friend or family member or who have lost a loved one. We're ready to help you."

World offers support, condolences to 'disaster-stricken' Beirut after devastating blasts

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