Daily News: Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousands
What we know now
Two huge explosions rocked Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday evening, killing at least 78 people and injuring 4,000 others
The explosive chemicals -2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate - stored at Port of Beirut may have led to the explosions - Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi
The Higher Defense Council declared Beirut as an afflicted city while urging the Lebanese cabinet to announce a state of emergency in the city for two weeks
BEIRUT - Lebanon's health minister told Reuters that the death toll from a massive explosion in the capital Beirut on Tuesday had reached 78, adding that nearly 4,000 people had been injured.
"There are many people missing until now. People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity." minister Hamad Hasan told Reuters. "We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages."
The minister earlier said in televised remarks that more than 70 people had been killed.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab urged friendly countries to help Lebanon overcome the repercussions of the disastrous explosions.
Meanwhile, Diab declared Wednesday a national mourning day for the victims of the explosions.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for an emergency meeting of the Higher Defense Council to discuss the reasons and repercussions of the explosions.
-- CHINADAILY Aug 5
massive 大量的，巨大的，厚重的
blast / explosion 爆炸
injure /ˈɪndʒər/ vt.伤害，损害
2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate 2700吨硝酸铵
council /ˈkaʊnsl/ 委员会、会议、理事会
afflict /əˈflɪkt/ v.折磨、使痛苦
an afflicted city 受灾城市
cabinet /ˈkæbɪnət/ 内阁、内阁的
state of emergency 紧急状态
in`terior /ɪnˈtɪriər/ minister 内政部长
health minister 卫生部长
prime minister （主要的部长）总理、首相
Reuters n.（英国）路透社
death toll 死亡人数
emergency department 急救部门
loved ones 亲人
ca`tastrophe /kəˈtæstrəfi/ n.大灾难、大祸
extent of damages 损失程度
televised v.电视播放、用电视播放
repercussions /ˌriːpərˈkʌʃn/ 反响、影响
di`sastrous /dɪˈzæstrəs/ 灾难性的、损失惨重的
a national mourning day 全国哀悼日
已知信息
周二晚上，黎巴嫩首都贝鲁特发生两起大爆炸，造成至少78人死亡，4000人受伤。
黎巴嫩内政部长穆罕默德·法赫米说，爆炸可能是储存在贝鲁特港口的2700吨硝酸铵引起的。
国防高级委员会宣布贝鲁特为受灾城市，同时敦促黎巴嫩内阁宣布该市进入为期两周的紧急状态。
黎巴嫩卫生部长告诉路透社，周二发生在首都贝鲁特的大规模爆炸造成的死亡人数已达78人，另有近4000人受伤。
“到目前为止有很多人失踪。人们向急救部门询问他们的亲人，但晚上很难搜索，因为没有电。”哈马德·哈桑部长告诉路透社。“我们正面临一场真正的灾难，需要时间来评估损失的程度。”
这位部长早些时候在电视讲话中称有70多人丧生。
黎巴嫩总理哈桑·迪亚布敦促友好国家帮助黎巴嫩克服灾难性爆炸的影响。
与此同时，迪亚布宣布星期三为全国哀悼日，悼念爆炸中的遇难者。
黎巴嫩总统米歇尔·奥恩呼吁召开高级国防委员会紧急会议，讨论爆炸的原因和后果。
