Sky News Arabia reported on Sunday an explosion in Akkar, northern Lebanon, prompting President Michel Aoun to call for an investigation into the causes of the blast, while Saad Hariri demanded Aoun's resignation.
According to our correspondent in Lebanon, another explosion occurred in Akkar just hours after a previous one that claimed 20 lives. Meanwhile, President Michel Aoun has called for an investigation into the causes of the Akkar explosion, while former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has called for Aoun's resignation following the blast.
Najib Mikati, the president designated to form the government, stated that "the sad night in Akkar has broken the hearts of all of us for the innocents who fell victim to the greed of those who exploited the fuel crisis to achieve unlawful profits and deprive people of their most basic rights." He added, "What happened calls for everyone’s conscience to cooperate to save the Lebanese from the calamities and neglect they are drowning in. We are determined to continue diligent work so that Akkar does not remain an easy target for monopolists and the greedy. May God have mercy on the victims, and we pray that He heals the wounded and keeps misfortunes and woes away from Lebanon and the Lebanese."
As for casualties, the Lebanese Red Cross stated that its teams recovered 20 deceased and 80 injured individuals from the vicinity of the fuel tank explosion in the town of Tleil in Akkar. The injured were transferred to several hospitals that issued urgent appeals for blood units for the wounded. Health Minister Hamad Hassan called on hospitals to receive the injured at the ministry's expense and announced the opening of the ministry’s warehouses to secure necessary burn medications and antibiotics.
While details about the moments leading up to the explosion remain unclear, it was reported that the tank was seized by locals and belonged to a person who owned a warehouse storing fuel, presumably for smuggling it to Syria. Helicopters from the Lebanese Army transported several injured individuals to distant hospitals due to the lack of specialized burn treatment in northern hospitals.
The town, along with nearby areas, is experiencing significant public anger, leading dozens to set fire to vehicles in front of the home of the individual accused of storing fuel in residential areas before smuggling it.
President Michel Aoun expressed his deep sorrow for the victims of the fuel tank explosion, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. Aoun remarked, "This tragedy that has befallen the dear Akkar region has broken the hearts of all Lebanese, who stand today with the inhabitants of the region in this ordeal that has befallen them." He has been following the developments of the incident that occurred at night and called for mobilizing security and health forces in the area to combat the fire, working to transfer the injured to hospitals and health centers, and providing them with emergency care at the expense of the Ministry of Health. He also urged the relevant judiciary to conduct necessary investigations to uncover the circumstances that led to the explosion.
