BEIRUT – At least 20 people were killed when a truck carrying fuel exploded in Lebanon’s northern region of Akkar today, said the Red Cross.
Videos shared on social media showed a large fire at the blast site.
AFP could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
The cause of the explosion is not immediately clear.
“Our teams have transported 20 bodies and more than 7 injured from the fuel tanker explosion in #AKKAR to hospitals in the area,” said the Lebanese Red Cross on Twitter.
Lebanon, hit by one of the world’s worst economic crises since the 1850s, according to the World Bank, has been grappling with fuel shortages for months.
The army yesterday said it has seized thousands of litres of gasoline and diesel that distributors were stockpiling in pumps across the country. – AFP, August 15, 2021
