Workers repair water tanks and damaged apartments overlooking the site of the Aug 4 explosions that hit the seaport, in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 27, 2020. (HUSSEIN MALLA/AP)

BEIRUT - A total of 25 people directly and indirectly related to a massive explosion at Port of Beirut have been arrested, according to a statement issued by Lebanon's Presidency on Thursday.

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"The most important is to investigate how this big amount of ammonium nitrate reached the port and had stayed there since 2013 until the explosion," President Michel Aoun was quoted as saying in the statement during an interview with Paris Match magazine.

"I, personally, am following up on investigations step by step and I will continue until we reach the truth behind the explosion," Aoun noted.

The most important is to investigate how this big amount of ammonium nitrate reached the port and had stayed there since 2013 until the explosion.

Michel Aoun, President, Lebanon

The Lebanese president said his top priorities are ensuring the transparency of the investigations and drawing foreign support to compensate victims of the explosion.

Two large explosions rocked Port of Beirut at around 6:10 pm local time on Aug 4, shaking buildings all over the Lebanese capital. At least 183 people were killed and about 6,000 others were wounded.

Preliminary investigations showed 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate as well as 24 tons of fireworks, kerosene, methylene and nitrogen were at the port when the explosion occurred. 

Canada has offered to join Lebanon’s investigation into the Beirut port explosion on condition that it is credible and transparent, the visiting foreign minister said on Thursday.

Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said after meeting Aoun that Ottawa was ready to assist under conditions that would be defined. He did not elaborate.

“The Lebanese people expect that if Canada participates in this investigation it is because it is going to be credible, transparent and get to the bottom of things to get justice,” Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said after meeting Aoun.

With Reuters inputs