A powerful explosions injured dozens and caused widespread damage in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday. The explosions took place at the city's port. It was not immediately clear what had caused the explosions and how many people were injured. Windows were shattered and buildings were destroyed, while smoke was seen billowing across the city.
Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hasan said there was a "very high number of injuries," local television channel LBC quoted him as saying. Several eyewitnesses reported that that some of the wounded may be buried under rubble. According to The Guardian, "Lebanon’s health minister told journalists a ship carrying fireworks had blown up in the port, though the size of the blast heard across the country raised suspicions it might have resulted from a rocket strike or detonation of explosives - deliberate or otherwise."
Video shows smoke from first explosion and then massive second one that follows. #Beirut #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/vugtOtd1pP
— Michael Downey (@mgdowney) August 4, 2020
Some local TV stations reported that the blast took place at an area where fireworks were sold, while Lebanon's state news agency NNA quoted security sources as saying that the warehouses may have housed explosives.
Several videos and images have emerged on social media websites showing the explosion and the damage that followed in Beirut.
Huge blast in Beirut just now! pic.twitter.com/hId8JhZMKV
— Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020
#BREAKING - Secondary angle of an array of explosions in #Beirut, #Lebanon.
— SV News (@SVNewsAlerts) August 4, 2020
Conflicting reports on the cause and location of the explosions. Reports say that witnesses saw a ‘missile’ being the cause of the secondary explosion, #Lebanese officials say it occurred near fireworks pic.twitter.com/RNIvsP5l8y
The explosion in #Beirut’s port area is utterly extraordinary — the blast wave is huge.
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) August 4, 2020
Lots of initially small explosions followed by a massive one raises lots of questions - potentially consistent with large scale munitions, but also mass gas storage?pic.twitter.com/sSy456nkSb
Photos from the explosion sent by residents of #Beirut #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/c5zy30iNzw
— Dalal Mawadدلال معوض (@dalalmawad) August 4, 2020
Even the Beirut airport (around 10 km from the explosion) was damaged by the explosion #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/rE2yvy0CnA
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) August 4, 2020
Another video I was just sent - incredible damage from shockwave on Charles Malek street. #Beirut #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/4U6TJLvugz
— Michael Downey (@mgdowney) August 4, 2020
Oh my goodness. pic.twitter.com/kigRLV0bXB
— Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020
Looks like at least one warehouse by the port went up. Widespread damage from the blast throughout the city.pic.twitter.com/G2O4VjnbDd
— Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020
#BREAKING - Injuries in #Beirut, #Lebanon are "in the thousands", per local media.
— Iqra rafeeq awan (@iqra_rafeeq) August 4, 2020
Video shows the MASSIVE explosion in slow motion. pic.twitter.com/uet5y9qvqi
With inputs from DW.