Fuel tanker explodes in Lebanon, kills 20

Anti-government protesters chant slogans during a protest marking the first anniversary of the massive blast at Beirut's port. Photo / AP

A warehouse where fuel was illegally stored exploded early on Sunday in northern Lebanon, killing 20 people and wounding dozens more, the Lebanese Red Cross said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion near the border with Syria. Fuel smuggling operations have been ongoing for months.

The Lebanese Red Cross said a fuel tanker exploded and its teams recovered 20 bodies from the site in the border village of Tleil.

At least 20 people were killed in
a fuel tanker explosion in Akkar in northern Lebanon
pic.twitter.com/gizZuNeOqJ

— Mohamed Yehia (@yeh1a) August 15, 2021

In a statement, it said it evacuated 79 people who were injured or suffered burns in the blast. Hours after the blast, Lebanese Red Cross members were still searching the area for more victims as Lebanese soldiers cordoned the area.

Lebanon's Health Minister Hamad Hassan called on all hospitals in northern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut, to receive those injured by the explosion, adding that the Government will pay for their treatment.

The explosion comes as Lebanon faces a severe fuel shortage that has been blamed on smuggling, hoarding and the cash-strapped Government's inability to secure deliveries of imported fuel.

Watch: Footage being shared online shows the gas tanker explosion in the #Tleil area of the Akkar district in #Lebanon.https://t.co/7ykoxCUopI pic.twitter.com/ncZyhPVtLd

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) August 15, 2021

Tleil is about four kilometres from the Syrian border, but it was not immediately clear if the fuel in the tanker was being prepared to be smuggled to Syria where prices are much higher compared to those in Lebanon.

Sunday's explosion was the deadliest in the country since the huge blast on August 4, 2020, at Beirut's port which killed at least 214, wounded thousands and destroyed parts of the capital.