A team of Polish experts is preparing to leave for Lebanon to assist in search and rescue efforts following a catastrophic explosion in the country’s capital on Tuesday.

It’s not yet known what caused massive explosion in the city of Beirut but it’s understood to have begun in a warehouse storing ammonium nitrate, a toxic and sometimes explosive crop fertiliser.

At least 135 are believed to have died with many more potentially trapped in rubble. At least 4000 have been injured and as many as 300,000 have been made homeless.

The Polish team of 50 from the State Fire Service is made of 39 rescue workers with 4 sniffer dogs. They’ll also be taking specialist equipment for locating survivors trapped in collapsed buildings.

Several other EU countries have also offered assistance and the Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, a system coordinating the European response to humanitarian crises.

The first stage of the 2020 Tour de Pologne kicked off in southern Poland yesterday, but the historic bicycle race has already been mired in tragedy after a rider was knocked from his bike and left fighting for his life in hospital.

Fabio Jakobsen from the Netherlands had been competing for the lead in the final sprint when he was seemingly forced off the road by fellow Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen. The two collided, knocking Jakobsen from his bike and sending him over a barrier just metre before the finish line.

Jakobsen was seriously injured in the crash and had to be airlifted to hospital. Several other riders and one race official were also hurt in the crash.

Groenewegen has since been disqualified for causing the crash and an investigation has been launched into the incident. The UCI, cycling’s international governing body, has said it „strongly condemns his dangerous behaviour”, adding that it was „unacceptable” and would be referred to a disciplinary commission.

The Tricity SKM has once again been searching for a contractor to renovate the historic Gdynia Główna station.

The suburban station, part of the larger Gdynia Główna station, is one of Gdynia’s iconic 20th century modernist building.

But while the main building has been extensively renovated and its historic architecture preserved, the suburban station remains largely in a dilapidated state.

Now though, the SKM are looking for a contractor for renovation and preservation of the historic building.

The plans include removing advertising and clutter, repairs to the station’s 20th century decor and the „Dworzec Podmiejski” sign as well as modernisation of the station, including passenger information systems, security cameras, and modern lighting.

The plans also include a new monitoring centre connected to cameras all along the SKM line.

It’s the third time SKM has put out the call for contractors. Previous attempts in 2018 and 2019 failed when all offers came in millions of złoty over budget.

A kitten thrown in the garbage by its owner has been rescued and is being cared for by workers at a Gdansk waste disposal plant.

The two week old kitten was discovered buried in the garbage along with three siblings, none of whom survived.

The sole survivor was rescued by Dawid Kilkowski, a worker at the plant. Kilkowski and the other staff have since been caring for the young kitten, giving him the name Rodriquez.

Speaking to Trójmiasto.pl, a spokesperson for the plant said Rodriquez is doing well and is healthy and growing.

For now he’s staying at the waste disposal plant where he was rescued, but plans are that he’ll eventually find a new home living with one of the workers who saved his life.

Weather:

A beautiful afternoon today with bright sunshine and temperatures up to about 24°C, 75°F. A light southerly breeze keeping things feeling fresh. Looking largely the same tomorrow with temperatures pushing up a little higher into the 20s.

Radio Gdansk News/TAH