Lebanon authorities declare Beirut a "disaster city" and impose state of emergency

Lebanese authorities declared Beirut a “disaster city" on Wednesday, according to Lebanon State-run NNA news, citing a statement released by the country’s Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad Najd. A state of emergency has been declared in Beirut for two weeks, Najd said in the statement, adding this could be extended. The country’s Council of Ministers made the two decisions on Wednesday in an “extraordinary session” headed by President Michel Aoun and in the presence of the prime minister. "The highest military authority is immediately responsible for maintaining security," Najd said in the statement. "The government asked the Ministry of Works to take the necessary steps to secure import and export operations, especially in the ports of Tripoli and Sidon.” It was also decided in the extraordinary session "to instruct the High Relief Commission to secure shelter for families whose homes are no longer fit for housing, open schools and hotels to receive citizens, and request from the security services to ensure Not to tamper with the crime scene," the statement said.