At least 100 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured
Officials have not said what caused the initial blaze, but President Michel Aoun has blamed the explosion on the ‘unacceptable’ storage of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate without safety measures.The port was still engulfed in flames hours after the blast, which struck shortly after 6pm local time.
George Kettaneh, the head of Lebanon’s Red Cross, told broadcaster Mayadeen: ‘What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatFootage of the explosion shared by residents on social media showed a column of smoke rising from the port, followed by an enormous blast, sending a white cloud and a fireball into the sky.
It struck with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, according to Germany’s geosciences centre GFZ, and was heard and felt as far away as Cyprus more than 180 miles across the Mediterranean.A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon Those filming the incident from high buildings a mile from the port were thrown backwards by the shock.
Bleeding people were seen running and shouting for help in clouds of smoke and dust in streets littered with damaged buildings, flying debris, and wrecked cars and furniture.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Beirut blast kills 100 after ‘welder ignites 2,700 tons of chemicals'THE massive explosion which killed at least 100 people and left 4,000 injured in Lebanon’s capital Beirut is feared to have been started by a reckless welder. Shocking pictures show flattened…
Read more »
Beirut explosion death toll reaches 100 with over 4,000 woundedThe death toll from two huge explosions that rocked Beirut on Tuesday has reached 100, the Lebanese Red Cross has said, and more victims are under the rubble. The organisation told Lebanese TV the
Read more »
Massive blast rips through Beirut with huge mushroom clouds above cityBEIRUT has been rocked by a mammoth explosion with thick smoke rising from the Lebanese capital, say witnesses and local media. Buildings near the port have reportedly been damaged in the blast. Th…
Read more »
Beirut explosion: footage shows massive blast – videoThe blast appeared to be centered around Beirut's port and shattered windows miles away.
Read more »
Lebanon explosion: Massive blast in port area of Beirut was 'like a nuclear bomb'“I saw something flash and I couldn’t hear anymore.” Witness Hadi Nasrallah says it was “raining glass all over the city of Beirut” following a large explosion in the port area of the city. Follow the latest on this story here:
Read more »