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Monday, April 14, 2025

WATCH: BLAST RIPS THROUGH BEIRUT

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Three hospitals have been completely destroyed in Beirut in Lebanon, after last night’s explosion at the harbour.

The president of the Order of Nurses in Beirut, Dr Mirna Doumit says 2 other hospitals were partially destroyed, placing a big strain on healthcare services in the country.

Patients had to be evacuated from the affected hospitals. 3 nurses have also been killed in the blast. More than 70 people have been killed and more than 4 000 others were injured.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, which is typically used as an agricultural fertilizer, had been stored for six years at a port warehouse without safety measures, “endangering the safety of citizens,” according to a statement.

It’s still not exactly clear what led to the ignition that wiped out entire streets across the seaside capital.

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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