The death toll of the Beirut explosion has reached 78 and the number of people wounded has reached 4,000.

Our prayers go out to everyone affected by the blast which was felt as far away as Cyprus and registered as a magnitude 3.3 earthquake in the Lebanese capital. The Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material had been stored for six years at a port warehouse where the explosion took place, however, in a statement to the media he did not elaborate, saying the focus is now on handling the disaster, pulling the martyrs out, and treating the wounded.

The capital was rocked by the explosion just after 6pm on Tuesday evening

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeTC0BALGR/

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In the wake of the explosion, Hassan Diab delivered the following speech

“Dear Fellow Lebanese,

Today is a deeply sad and painful day… Beirut is grief-stricken… Lebanon is facing a disaster.

Yes.

This is a great national disaster. The images and videos we see truly express this tragedy and translate the scope of the calamity that has affected Lebanon.

Beirut is grieving… All of Lebanon is disaster-torn. Lebanon is going through a quite ordeal that could only be faced with national unity and solidarity among all Lebanese from all backgrounds and regions. We are going through a disaster that could only be overcome with determination and tenacity to face this serious challenge and its destructive consequences.

What happened today will not fly by without accountability. All those responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price.

This is a promise I make to martyrs and injured. This is a national commitment.

Facts about this dangerous warehouse that has been there since 2014, i.e. for 6 years now, will be announced. I will not preempt the investigations. At the moment, we are focusing on handling the disaster, pulling the martyrs out, and treating the wounded.

But, I promise that this catastrophe will not go unpunished and those responsible will be held accountable.

Dear Fellow Lebanese,

We are facing a catastrophe. But I am confident that we will handle it with great responsibility.

I implore you to be united in order to celebrate victory for our martyrs and heal our injured wounds and our nation’s wounds.

I now launch an urgent call for all the friendly and brotherly nations that love Lebanon to stand by Lebanon and help us heal our deep wounds.

We are facing a catastrophe; but we hold to the Almighty’s words: “Who, when disaster strikes them, say: Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”—PM Press Office

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, offered his condolences to the people of Lebanon

تعازينا لأهلنا في لبنان الحبيبة .. اللهم ارحم من انتقلوا إليك .. اللهم الطف بأهلها ..
اللهم ألهم شعب لبنان الصبر والسلوان .. pic.twitter.com/ZXVqUIXMUk

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 4, 2020

The Burj Khalifa lit up yesterday evening as a show of support

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDfakT5g-lD/

The UAE and beyond send our prayers to the people of Lebanon

https://twitter.com/jiminoosaurus/status/1290847642977591297?s=20

Main image via @jiminoosaurus