Several countries and organizations are offering assistance to Lebanon following yesterday’s explosion.
On Tuesday evening, a massive explosion took place in Beirut’s port, killing more than 100 people and injuring thousands more. The blast was so strong it was felt more than 150 miles away in Cyprus. The destruction of buildings near the port, which is close to the city center, was massive, and an unknown number of people are still trapped beneath the rubble.
Investigators believe 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate — a chemical often used in agriculture as a fertilizer — caught fire and exploded. For comparison, the Oklahoma City bomber in the United States in 1995 used two tons of the substance in his attack, which killed 168 people and destroyed a US federal building. Many in Lebanon blame government incompetence for the disaster since the explosive material was not properly stored.
Several countries are providing aid to Lebanon following the tragedy. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Lebanon on Thursday, and his government sent rescue workers, medical equipment and a mobile clinic there today. France used to govern Lebanon during the colonial era in the 20th century. Some Lebanese are so angry at their government over the explosion that a petition to return Lebanon to a French mandate has gained more than 15,000 signatures.
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