More than 100 people were killed in the blast in Beirut, Sky News Arabia TV channel reported on Wednesday citing the Lebanese Red Cross.
According to the report, more than 4,000 people were injured.
At least 10 firefighters went missing in an effort to extinguish the fire triggered by the blast, Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud told OTV channel.
The firefighters were sent in two vehicles to the seaport district, where the blast occurred. They were accompanied by three ambulance vehicles. The Lebanese Civil Defense personnel continue putting out the fire in Beirut.
Lebanon’s civil defense forces continue to fight the fire ignited by the explosion. The units of the Lebanese army are guarding the port area where the explosion occurred. All roads leading to the harbor are blocked. The rescuers continue to clear the debris since people might be trapped underneath.
A powerful blast rocked the Beirut seaport district on August 4, sending a shockwave that ripped through residential areas of the Lebanese capital. The shockwave destroyed and damaged dozens of buildings and cars. According to local authorities, the blast was caused by the detonation of 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, stored in the port after being confiscated by the customs services in 2015.
Since Wednesday, a two-week state of emergency has been in place in the Lebanese capital, which was declared a disaster-stricken city. The authorities announced that Wednesday would be a national day of mourning.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab declared the explosion at the port a "great national disaster" and promised that "all those responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price".
Lebanese President Michel Aoun called the failure to deal with the ammonium nitrate "unacceptable" and vowed the "harshest punishment" for those responsible. An investigation has now been launched, and the committee is to refer its findings to the judiciary within five days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences to Lebanese President Michel Aoun over numerous human casualties and large-scale damages done by a powerful blast in Beirut’s port.
"Russia shares the grief of the Lebanese people. Please convey the words of sympathy and support to the families of those killed and wishes of the soonest recovery to those injured," the president’s telegram reads.
Many European leaders also expressed solidarity with Lebanon after massive blast.
Turkey, Canada, the U.S. and other countries sai that they stand by Lebanon and ready to provide all humanitarian assistance, mainly healthcare, to the Lebanese people.
Israel has offered to send humanitarian and medical assistance to Lebanon via security and international channels.
Planes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will deliver humanitarian aid to Beirut where a powerful explosion claimed dozens of lives on Tuesday, the ministry's press service said.
"A total of five planes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will be sent to Beirut, Lebanon, in the course of the humanitarian action to render assistance and to clean up the aftermath of the heavy explosion that occurred yesterday," Interfax cited the statement as saying.
The planes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will airlift a mobile hospital, doctors, Tsentrospas state central airmobile rescue team, and Rospotrebnadzor specialists with a coronavirus testing laboratory.
All specialists would be provided with special suits and protective equipment in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry said.
