"Never Seen Such a Scene Even in War"…Massive Casualties in Beirut

Damage from Explosion Shock at Large Hospital
Patients Flock to Hospitals
USGS "Earthquake-Level Shock Detected"
Toxic Gas Risk Warned, but All Windows Are Broken

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] "Every floor of the hospital was destroyed. I have never seen such a scene even during wartime. This is a catastrophe."

On the 4th (local time), a large-scale loss of life occurred in the Beirut area of Lebanon where the explosion accident took place, and hospitals were filled with patients. Patients were barely brought to the hospitals but are in a situation where proper treatment is difficult. This is because the hospitals themselves also suffered great damage from the explosion.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to The New York Times (NYT), at the Bikhaiji Hospital, which has only 60 beds, 500 patients are being treated. This hospital is also damaged by the explosion shock but is treating the influx of patients.

Saint George Hospital, the largest hospital in Beirut, is about 1 km away from the explosion site, but it was destroyed by the shock of the explosion, and patients are evacuating outside the hospital. Pediatric cancer patients receiving cancer treatment at this hospital were treated for injuries caused by broken glass windows during the explosion.

With thousands of victims, medical experts are concerned about a possible shortage of medicines. Near the site of the explosion, there was a warehouse storing Lebanon's medical equipment and vaccines, which was damaged by the explosion at the port.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The area near the warehouse where the accident occurred was the Beirut waterfront, where major facilities are concentrated. Near here are the Lebanese Prime Minister's office, major hospitals, mosques, churches, and universities. Because of this, additional damage is inevitable.

The warehouse that stored ammonium nitrate, which is presumed to have increased the explosive power, is now unrecognizable even as a building. Only concrete debris and steel structures remain at the site, confirming that this area was the warehouse location.

There is an analysis that the shock of this Beirut explosion was equivalent to a nuclear weapon explosion. According to CNN, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that the explosion was so powerful that shock waves equivalent to those generated by a strong earthquake were detected. The shock from the explosion shook the earth's surface, causing such an impact even though it was not an actual earthquake.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Toxic gas is also a problem. In addition to the direct damage from the explosion, toxic gases mixed with nitrogen oxides are spreading. As news of toxic gas leakage spread, citizens are seeking safe indoor shelters, but the situation is difficult. Most windows were broken due to the explosion shock. Relatedly, local media reported that children and the elderly should evacuate Beirut.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.