Fuel tank explosion in northern Lebanon kills 28 and injures 80, overwhelming hospitals

The explosion of a fuel tank in Lebanon’s northern region of Akkar killed at least 28 people on August 15, 2021. Many of the victims were in a crowd gathered near the tank clamouring for petrol. The military had seized the facility as part of its efforts to curb hoarding in the wake of the central bank scrapping fuel subsidies in the country. At least 80 people were injured in the blast, overwhelming medical facilities in the remote area and prompting authorities to transfer some victims to hospitals in the capital Beirut, over 100km away.