Beirut blasts deaths rise to 135

BEIRUT: Fatalities from the deadly blasts in Beirut Tuesday night have risen to 135 as investigators focus on possible negligence in the storage of tons of a highly explosive fertilizer in a waterfront warehouse, while the government ordered the house arrest of several port officials.

International aid flights began to arrive as Lebanon’s leaders struggled to deal with the widespread damage and shocking aftermath of Tuesday’s blast, which the Health Ministry said killed 135 people and injured about 5,000 others.