Death Toll In Lebanon Fuel Explosion Rises To 28

The death toll in a fuel tank explosion, which happened in northern Lebanon early on Sunday rose to 28 people, a Health Ministry spokesman said, Jan Kuhlmann and Weedah Hamzah reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Photo Insert: The aftermath of the fuel tank explosion in Lebanon

At least 79 others were injured in the blast that occurred in the village of Talil in Akkar province, according to the Lebanese Red Cross. The army said the tank had exploded on a plot of land which was used to store gravel.

It added in a statement that the army had confiscated the tank to distribute its fuel to people when the blast happened. "Investigations were launched under the supervision of the competent judiciary to find out about circumstances of the explosion," the statement said without providing further details.

Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan appealed earlier Sunday to "sisterly countries" to treat some of the severely wounded victims.

He said in an interview with Lebanese television channel al-Jadeed that there were 14 people suffering from severe burns. Seven among them have 70 to 80-per-cent burns across their bodies, the official added.

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