By Tara John, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Veronica Rocha, Meg Wagner, Joshua Berlinger, Adam Renton, Zamira Rahim and Ed Upright, CNN
From CNN's Ghazi Balkiz in Beirut, Lebanon
At least 100 people have died and more than 4,000 were wounded in Tuesday’s explosion in the port of Beirut, state-run media reported, citing the Red Cross.
Georges Kettaneh, the secretary-general of the Lebanese Red Cross, told Lebanon’s National News Agency Wednesday that the disaster is "unprecedented and very large."
Jad Chaaban, an associate professor of economics at the American University of Beirut, said the situation on the ground in the Lebanese capital after the explosion is so dire that it is "beyond a national disaster,"
"Beirut city is completely destroyed and shattered," he said.
Chaaban said storing ammonium nitrate in a warehouse for years near a populated area amounted to "criminal" behavior.
Lebanon's Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, said that 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers and bombs, had been stored for six years at a port warehouse without safety measures, "endangering the safety of citizens," according to a statement.
The Prime Minister has launched an investigation into the explosion, saying he "will not rest until we find those responsible for what happened, hold them accountable, and impose maximum punishment."
More unrest coming: Chaaban told CNN he believes this incident could precipitate more protests in Lebanon.
"We are very, very angry at this political class, and they all should leave," Chaaban said.
Lebanon has been dealing with sporadic anti-government protests since late last year, when a popular uprising gripped the country. Many were angry with the country's ruling political class, endemic corruption and its dire economic outlook -- which has only gotten worse since Covid-19 hit. Prices for many goods have risen rapidly in recent weeks, some quadrupling, according to Chaaban.
"There is exasperation on the streets and there is a lot of anger," he said.
From CNN’s Mary Ilyushina in Moscow
The Russian government is sending five planes of medical equipment and a team of doctors to set up a field hospital in Beirut to help the city in the aftermath of yesterday's explosion, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said Wednesday, according to Russia's TASS news agency.
The ministry will also send a team trained for search and rescue operations and a mobile laboratory to identify cases of Covid-19.
Lebanon has recorded more than 5,000 cases of the virus, including 65 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
From CNN's Isaac Yee in Hong Kong
Two Philippine nationals were killed in Tuesday's explosion in Beirut, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut confirmed Wednesday.
Eight other Philippine citizens suffered injuries, the Embassy said in a statement. One is in critical but stable condition.
Two of the injured were part of a group of 13 Filipino seafarers whose ship was docked “some 400 meters away from blast zone," the embassy said. The other 11 from that group are missing.
The embassy said it is working with local authorities to locate and ensure the safety of those who have not been accounted for.
"The Philippines extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the Lebanese Government and people, especially those who have been affected by this tragic event,” the Department of Foreign Affairs told CNN.
From CNN's Jessie Yeung
A massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday evening, leaving dozens dead and thousands injured.
The blast has been linked to a large supply of confiscated and potentially unsecured explosive material, stored in a warehouse at the city's port, close to populated areas. As world leaders and international organizations step in to offer assistance, local officials are also launching an investigation into the blast.
As day breaks in Lebanon, authorities are scrambling to treat the wounded, search for survivors, and assess the full extent of the damage.
Here's what we know so far:
Leila Molana-Allen, a journalist with France 24 in Beirut, lives about a kilometer away from Beirut's port.
She said the explosion caused a blinding white light and "ripped" the doors and windows out of her apartment.
"When I stood up, the entire apartment was covered in debris and glass," she said.
Watch her interview with CNN:
From CNN's Helen Regan, Tamara Qiblawi, Ghazi Balkiz and Ben Wedeman
A warehouse storing thousands of tons of unsecured highly explosive material has emerged as a possible source of the massive blast that ripped through the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, killing at least 80 people, injuring 4,000 and sending a shock wave across the city that damaged buildings and blew out windows up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.
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.
Initial reports in state media blamed the blast on a major fire at a firecrackers warehouse near the port, that likely spread to nearby buildings. However, the Prime Minister's account appeared to be backed by Lebanon's General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, who said a "highly explosive material" had been confiscated years earlier and stored in the warehouse, just minutes' walk from Beirut's shopping and nightlife districts.
As Beirut's 4 million residents wake to the full horror and scale of the damage to their city, lives, and livelihoods, questions will be asked about why such large quantities of the dangerous chemical were allowed to be stored in the middle of the city without adequate safety measures, and who is responsible.
Read more:
From CNN's Jadyn Sham
An Indonesian national was "slightly injured" in Tuesday's explosion in the Port of Beirut, the country's Embassy in Lebanon said.
The embassy facility, which is located fewer than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the port, was not damaged, said Basyiruddin Hidayat, an official with the Embassy of Indonesia in Beirut.
Hidayat said that according to the embassy's records, there are 1,447 Indonesian citizens in Lebanon, all of whom appear to be safe.
From CNN's Charbel Mallo in Abu Dhabi
At least 80 people have died and more than 4,000 were wounded after the massive explosion in central Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanon's Health Minister Hamad Hassan said Wednesday morning.
Hassan said four hospitals are out of service because of damage from the blast.
He said the death toll will likely increase.
