Determine the cause of the explosion that killed thousands of people at Beirut port (Lebanon)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Lebanon's Security Chief have determined the cause of the massive explosion that occurred at Beirut port yesterday (August 4), killing dozens of people and injuring thousands.

President Aoun said it was unacceptable that a shipment of ammonium nitrate, estimated at 2,750 tonnes, had been present for six years in a warehouse in Beirut without precautions.

Mr. Aoun vowed to impose the harshest punishment on those responsible, adding that a state of emergency was declared in Beirut for two weeks after the explosion, and a commission was assigned to investigate the cause of the explosion. Mr. Aoun also decided to issue a special credit line in the 2020 budget of up to 100 billion Lebanese pounds for special and urgent cases.

Lebanon's security chief, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, has confirmed that 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate (used to directly make explosives) was what exploded inside Beirut port last night and said the shipment was headed to Africa.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police (UAE), has accused Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah of involvement in the explosion that occurred at Beirut port, which resulted in a large number of casualties. Mr. Khalfan pointed out that there was a connection between the explosion and the sentencing date of those involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

Early this morning (August 5), local time, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that the death toll from the explosion that rocked Beirut port on Tuesday afternoon had risen to 78 people and more than 4,000 others were injured. Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that many people were still missing but the search was difficult during the night due to the power outage. Therefore, the number of casualties is likely to increase./.