Several people have been killed in an explosion at a camp in southern Lebanon, Palestine | Stories

Ambulances rushed to the site of the Burj al-Shemali camp in the port city of Tire as authorities investigated the blast.

A massive explosion has shaken a Palestinian camp south of the Lebanese port in Tire, killing scores of people and injuring them, state media said.

A Palestinian expert inside the camp told Reuters News Agency that at least 12 people had been injured and unknown people had died in the blast late Friday.

The blast occurred at a Hamas depot suspected to be in the Burj al-Shemali camp and a judge ordered the military to launch an investigation, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) of the state said.

12 injured in an explosion at Hamas weapons depot in a Palestinian refugee camp 🇵🇸

South Lebanon 🇱🇧 Attorney General Judge Rahif Ramadan assigned security agencies and bomb experts to inspect the minefields while an investigation was launched into the incident to reveal what was happening.https://t.co/iqgSSz0nfp pic.twitter.com/TvEGxyntTR

– Saad Abedine 🤬😷🤟🏼 (@SaadAbedine) December 10, 2021

The Shehab News Agency, which appears to be close to Hamas, cited Palestinian claims that the blast was caused by burning oxygen cans stored to be used in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Hamas remains in many Palestinian camps in Lebanon.

The NNA said troops had surrounded the area, preventing people from entering or leaving the camp.

Videotapes from the area shared by local journalists show small red lights over the southern city, followed by a loud bang and the sound of broken glass.

Lebanon is home to thousands of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. Many live in 12 refugee camps located on the outskirts of the small Mediterranean country.

Several Palestinian militant groups, including those affiliated with Hamas and Fatah, have control over the camps, which Lebanese officials traditionally do not attend.