Beirut: At least 28 people were killed and 79 were injured when the fuel tank exploded in North Lebanon on Sunday, the Ministry of Health said.
Military and security sources say that the army has confiscated a fuel storage tank hidden by black marketers and distributed gasoline to residents when the explosion occurred.
Lebanon suffers severe fuel shortages, which leads to a long line in expanded gas stains and blackouts.
Disasters occurred in the city of Altalil, in the Akkar area which is one of the poorest areas in Lebanon.
About 200 people were nearby during the explosion, eyewitness words.
Minister of Health Carer Hamad Hassan said the burning case burned may need quick care abroad to save their lives.
Personnel forces and security forces are one of the victims, said source.
Accounts vary about what caused an explosion.
“There is a rush of people, and the argument between some of them causes a shot that crashes into the gas tank and therefore explodes,” the security source said.
The local Al-Jadeed TV channel was reported from eyewitnesses caused by someone who ignited lighter.
Abdelrahman, whose face and body was covered in gauze when he was placed at the Al-Salam Hospital Tripoli, was one of them who was in line to get gasoline.
“There are hundreds gathered there, right next to the tank, and God only knows what happened to them,” he said.
Father of another victim in the hospital said he had two other sons he still had to live.
The Red Cross said his team was still looking for explosion sites.
Angry residents in Akkar gathered at the location and burned two garbage trucks, according to Witness Reuters.
With deep Lebanon in the economic crisis, hospitals have warned that fuels can force them to close in the coming days, and also report low supplies of drugs and other essence.
“Akkar massacre is no different from the port slaughter,” said former Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri on Twitter, referring to a big explosion last year at the Port in Beirut.
He called Lebanese officials including the President to take responsibility and resign.
Hariri is a leading Sunni Muslim politician, the dominant religion in North Lebanon, and has been in an open opposition against Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
Aoun revealed condolences, writing on Twitter that “this tragedy that befell our beloved Akkar has made the hearts of all his work Lebanon”.
He added that he asked the justice to investigate the situation that led to the explosion.
At least 28 killed in the Lebanon fuel tank explosion: Health Officials
