Beirut Declared a Disaster Zone, State of Emergency Imposed Until August 18

The capital of Lebanon, Beirut, has been declared a disaster zone following the powerful explosion that occurred on the evening of August 4. A state of emergency will be imposed in the city for two weeks, from August 4 to August 18.

According to TASS, this decision was made during an extraordinary meeting of Lebanon's Supreme Security Council, chaired by President Michel Aoun.

A special committee has also been formed by the Security Council to investigate the circumstances of the incident, with a report expected to be published within the next five days.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Hassan Diab stated that those responsible for the disaster would face severe accountability. "It is absolutely unacceptable that 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were stored in the port for six years without any preventive measures taken by the port officials," emphasized Diab.

The Prime Minister noted that the government is currently directing all efforts towards saving lives and recovering the bodies of victims from the rubble of the port's collapsed structures.