Italian firefighters take samples near Beirut port, as Russians search rubble

Russia has sent five planes carrying medical workers, teams from the Emergency Ministry and humanitarian aid to Lebanon to help with the aftermath of the explosion.

The teams, which include the Centrospas search and rescue team and doctors specializing in the coronavirus, began work at the site of the blast on Thursday together with their Lebanese colleagues.

"The group of rescuers in the first shift is working at the locations pointed out by the (search and rescue) dogs, they are widening the gaps between the concrete slabs to see what can be done," said Igor Akmayev, the head of the Russian rescue group in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the makeshift hospital set up by the Russian team at a stadium near the explosion site said it had treated 12 people since Thursday.

Sergey Vorontsov, deputy head of Russian National Control Centre of Crisis Situations:

"Over the course of yesterday evening, 12 people reached out to us (for medical help.) They are all outpatient cases and help was provided on location."

Igor Akmayev, head of Russian rescuing group in Lebanon, deputy head of search and rescue centre of Russian Emergency Ministry added:

"The group of rescuers in the first shift is working at the locations pointed out by the (search and rescue) dogs, they are widening the gaps between the concrete slabs to see what can be done."

Meanwhile a team of 14 Italian firefighters who are experts in chemical and biological risks are taking samples from the water in the port of Beirut near the site of this week's massive explosion.

The team arrived in Beirut Thursday morning and are working with other firefighters from around Europe.

Rescue teams are searching the rubble of Beirut's port for bodies nearly three days after a massive explosion sent a wave of destruction through Lebanon's capital, killing nearly 150 people and wounding thousands.

The blast shredded a large grain silo, devastated neighborhoods near the port and left several city blocks littered with glass and rubble.

The blast was apparently caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored at the port since 2013.

The government has launched an investigation, as many Lebanese blame the catastrophe on negligence and corruption.