Beirut explosion – latest news: Lebanon declares state of emergency as over 300,000 left homeless and at least 135 dead following blast

‘Negligence’ over highly explosive material led to blast, official source says

Initial investigations into the Beirut explosions have indicated years of inaction and negligence over the storage of highly explosive material caused the blast, an official source has told Reuters.

“It is negligence,” the source said, adding that the storage safety issue had been before several committees and judges and “nothing was done” to issue an order to remove or dispose of the highly combustible material.

The source's comments came after the prime minister and president said on Tuesday that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures

Badri Daher, director-general of Lebanese Customs, told broadcaster LBCI on Wednesday that customs had sent six documents to the judiciary warning that the material posed a danger.

“We requested that it be re-exported but that did not happen. We leave it to the experts and those concerned to determine why,” Mr Daher said.

Another source close to a port employee said a team that inspected the ammonium nitrate six months ago warned that if it was not moved it would “blow up all of Beirut”.

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical blamed for Beirut’s explosion?

It is still unclear exactly what sparked the explosions in Beirut yesterday but multiple sources have pointed to a stockpile of ammonium nitrate at the city’s port as a possible cause.

But what is ammonium nitrate? And how was it able to cause such a powerful and devastating blast?

Our science reporter, Andrew Griffin, has the full story below:

Lebanon president promises transparent inquiry into Beirut blast

Lebanon’s president has said there will be an investigation into the explosion on Tuesday to reveal the circumstances of what happened as soon as possible and the results will be revealed transparently.

In a televised speech at the start of a cabinet meeting, Michel Aoun appealed to other nations to speed up their assistance to the country, which is already struggling with an economic crisis.

EU activates civil protection system to send emergency workers to Beirut

The European Union has activated its civil protection system to bring together emergency workers and equipment from across the 27-nation bloc to help Beirut.

The EU commission said on Wednesday that the plan was to urgently dispatch more than 100 firefighters with vehicles, sniffer dogs and equipment designed to find people trapped in urban areas.

France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland and the Netherlands are taking part in the scheme and other countries are expected to join.

Janez Lenarcic, the EU’s crisis management commissioner, said the EU shared “the shock and sadness” of Beirut residents over the destruction and stood ready to provide extra help.

Where did the ‘floating bomb’ cargo come from and is Russia connected?

Tuesday’s explosion came as a shock to many Beirut residents but for the crew of a Russian-owned vessel abandoned in the docks in late 2013, it likely came as less of a surprise.

Our Moscow correspondent, Oliver Carroll, has explained below how the dangerous cargo ended up in the Lebanese city’s port:

Emmanuel Macron to travel to Lebanon on Thursday

French president Emmanuel Macron will travel to Lebanon on Thursday to offer support for the country following the devastating explosion in Beirut.

Mr Macron’s office said he would meet with Lebanese political leaders but did not provide further details on his plans. 

Lebanon is a former French protectorate and the countries retain close political and economic ties.

France is also sending several tons of aid and emergency workers after the explosion, which has killed at least 100 people and wounded thousands.

Australia to donate A$2m to Lebanon for recovery

Australia has said it will donate 2 million Australian dollars (£1.1m) in humanitarian support to Lebanon to help Beirut recover.

Marise Payne, Australia’s foreign minister, said in a statement that the money would go to the World Food Programme and the Red Cross to help ensure food, medical care and essential items are provided to those affected.

She said Australia and Lebanon had a strong relationship built on extensive community ties, with more than 230,000 Australians having Lebanese heritage.

An Australian was killed and the Australian Embassy in Lebanon was damaged in the explosion.

Beirut port manager says explosive material was kept in warehouse due to court order

Beirut port’s general manager has said the facility had warehoused highly-explosive material, which has been blamed for the explosion, six years ago based on a court order, local broadcaster OTV has reported. 

The broadcaster quoted Hassan Koraytem as saying that the customs department and state security had asked authorities for the material to be exported or removed, but that “nothing happened”.

Photos show extent of damage to Beirut 

Beirut is reeling from the damage caused by Tuesday's massive explosion. 

Photographs show the pain of those injured in the blast as well as the extensive destruction of buildings in the city. 

Our reporter, Kate Ng, has this article on some images from the Lebanese capital: 

British citizen describes feeling blast more than 12 miles away

Richard Gordon-Smith, from Twickenham, said he felt the shockwaves of the explosion in the coastal town of Damour, which is located more than 12 miles from the port of Beirut. 

Mr Gordon-Smith, who was working outside when the blast went off, described the experience as like being "slapped in the face". 

The 39-year-old language teacher told the PA news agency: "Suddenly I simultaneously heard a very loud noise and felt something hitting me, almost like a slap in the face, like a strike in my ear and my eardrums reverberated painfully.

"It was not just a loud bang like a motorcycle might make, it was something much greater. I looked around and saw other neighbours coming out onto their balconies."

He added that he initially thought it came from the next neighbourhood, saying: "I didn't think a shockwave could have come all the way from Beirut."