So far, at least 100 people have been confirmed dead and more than 4,000 injured, after 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in the port for six years exploded.
A spokesman for the Lebanese Red Cross told the Associated Press that the number was expected to rise.
Between 250,000 and 300,000 people have lost their homes. More than half of the city has been damaged by the explosion, according to Governor Marwan Abboud.
Many people may be trapped in the ruins and in need of health care.
Sends medical equipment to Beirut
The Norwegian government donates 40 tonnes of medical equipment to treat severely injured patients. In addition, the government is sending NOK 25 million for aid and humanitarian aid, Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said at a press conference on Wednesday.
– We focus on the acute needs such as food, health care and shelter for the 200,000 who were initially affected by this tragedy, Søreide said.
The Norwegian embassy in Lebanon was damaged in the explosion, but all personnel are safe. The embassy is closed today as a result of the explosion.
– We have accounted for all employees and their families at the Norwegian Embassy in Lebanon. Everyone is safe, and we currently have no indications that there are any seriously injured Norwegians in Beirut. This is a situation we follow closely, says Søreide.
– Like in a horror movie
But the huge explosion also hit the health care system in the city.
According to Al Jazeera, three of the hospitals in the city have been completely destroyed.
– We have had to evacuate the patients from there to other hospitals. In addition, two other hospitals have been partially destroyed, says Mirna Doumit in the association of nurses in Lebanon.
– So this is a disaster and a powerful blow to the health service, which is already under strong pressure, Doumit says to the channel.
