Explosion in Lebanon injures at least 10 people

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – At least 10 people were injured when an explosion erupted in a warehouse holding gas canisters in Lebanon Sunday, France24 reports. The wounded were rushed to the hospital by Lebanese Red Cross rescuers who had been sent to the site of the explosion near Lebanon’s border with Syria.

In a statement about the blast, the Red Cross said: “We have responded to an explosion in a warehouse that stores gas canisters. We have responded with three teams. Ten people have been wounded and transported to nearby hospitals.”

A Lebanese army spokesman said the incident had been caused by the explosion of gas canisters in a warehouse located in the village of Al-Qasr, in the Hermel region of the country, France 24 said.

Notably, the Hermel region is known for the activity of smugglers transporting various types of contraband into Syria through illegal border crossings, France24 reports. Although smuggling happens in both directions, there has been increased activity from Lebanon into Syria since the beginning of the devastating Syrian civil war in 2011. It is not known at this time whether the gas canisters were being stored for a smuggling operation.

Civil defense teams reportedly arrived at the scene to extinguish the fires caused there.

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