Within a day, scores of conspiracy theories were in play. 

One site, since removed, said it had reliable evidence that a nuclear bomb had gone off. 

The authorities quickly pointed out that a nuclear explosion would have involved a bright flash, but that the kind of cloud seen was not peculiar to nuclear explosions. 

Others have claimed it was a missile attack, the work of Israel or internal militants like Hezbollah. 

And the initial story was that it was a fireworks eruption. That and other conspiracies were quickly disproved. 

But it amazes me how these armchair mechanics from the far right find ways to dupe people with their quest for bad news. 

Beirut has enough bad news as it is. 

Economic hardships have left 300,000 homeless, in addition to the now 140 who died and 5,000 who were injured in the blast. 

Such is the struggle in the Lebanese port, that 70% of its citizens are in need of aid, a third have lost jobs and over 1 million are living below the poverty datum line. 

Their hospitals are also overwhelmed by the impact of the explosion. Besides all that, the city is severely damaged. 

Perhaps now is not a good time for conspiratorialists to be touting their lies. The nation needs help. 

(c) Peter Missing @ me2u2all.blogspot.com