The head of the port of Beirut said that there was no pyrotechnics warehouse near the explosion site

© RIA Novosti / Mikhail AlaeddinDokha, 5 August – RIA Novosti. The head of the port of Beirut, Hasan Koretem, denied media reports that a pyrotechnics warehouse was located in the port next to the exploded hangar.”There is no pyrotechnics warehouse there,” Koreytem said in an interview with Lebanese OTV.He stated that saltpeter was stored in the port according to a court decision, and the port authorities knew about the danger of the stored substances, but did not think that they were dangerous to such an extent.Earlier, the Lebanese TV channel LBCI reported that during a meeting of the Supreme Council for the Defense of Lebanon on Tuesday after the explosion, improper storage of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate in one of the hangars in the port of Beirut, confiscated in 2014 from a dry cargo ship owned by the Russian owner of a Cypriot company, was named as the reason for the incident. Rhonus, who went to Africa, but was forced by a malfunction to enter the port of Beirut. Lebanese media noted that a pyrotechnics warehouse could also be located next to the hangar.A powerful explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut on Tuesday evening. According to authorities, the reason was improper storage of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, half of the city’s buildings were damaged, and hospitals were overcrowded due to the large number of victims. The Lebanese government has announced a three-day mourning for the victims of the tragedy. According to the latest data, more than 100 people died and about 4 thousand were injured. Many people are still missing.“Catastrophe in the full sense of the word”: the consequences of the explosion in Beirut

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Qatar, Iraq and Jordan have announced their readiness to deploy field hospitals in Beirut.© REUTERS / Aziz Taher

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Greece is sending rescuers to Lebanon to deal with the consequences of disasters.© AP Photo / Bilal Hussein

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After the explosion in Beirut, the port was destroyed, half of the city buildings were damaged.© AP Photo / Hussein Malla

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Many people are still missing.© RIA Novosti / Vissam Matta Go to photo bank

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According to eyewitnesses, the city “looks destroyed as in a war.”© REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir

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The Lebanese Supreme Defense Council declared Beirut a disaster zone and recommended a state of emergency.© REUTERS / Instagram/ Michel.Abboud

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Many of the victims of the explosion did not receive medical assistance due to the lack of places in clinics.© REUTERS / Aziz Taher

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The explosion completely destroyed four hospitals, the patients who were in them had to be placed in other hospitals.© RIA Novosti / Vissam Matta Go to photo bank

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The situation is complicated by the spread of coronavirus infection in the country. © RIA Novosti / Mikhail Alaeddin go to photobank

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Lebanese Minister of Health called the current situation “a disaster in the full sense of the word.” © RIA Novosti / Mikhail AlaeddinGo to photobank

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Governor of Beirut assessed the damage from the explosion © REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir

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Many countries and international organizations have offered Beirut assistance. © AP Photo / Hassan Ammar

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The World Health Organization allocates medicines and surgical kits for the treatment of 500 wounded. © REUTERS / Issam Abdallah

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EMERCOM of Russia sends five planes with a mobile hospital, doctors, rescuers and Rospotrebnadzor employees to the scene of the tragedy. © AP Photo / Hussein Malla