Beirut port blast: Death toll rises to 154, nearly 5,000 wounded

By Diana Shalhoub

BEIRUT (AA) – The death toll from Tuesday’s huge blast in Lebanon rose to 154, the country’s health minister confirmed on Friday.

Hamad Hasan told the state-run National News Agency that around 5,000 people were injured in the blast at the Port of Beirut, with 20% of them in need of medical treatment in hospitals.

He also said that 120 of injured are currently in critical condition and many others require delicate surgeries.

A fire at a warehouse at the Port of Beirut led to a huge blast on Tuesday causing massive material damage in several neighborhoods of the capital.

The Lebanese government announced the formation of an investigation committee to probe the deadly incident within a period of five days.

The blast rocked Lebanon while the country is experiencing its worst economic crisis, including a dramatic drop in the value of the Lebanese pound against the US dollar.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara