Snapshot from a purported video of the explosion. (Screen grab/ Twitter)
A powerful explosion rocked Lebanon’s capital Beirut Tuesday with images of smoke billowing from the city center floating on social media. Some local TV stations were quoted as saying by Associated Press that the blast was at Beirut’s port.
Lebanon’s Health Minister Hamad Hasan was quoted as saying by Reuters that an explosion in central Beirut on Tuesday had caused a “very high number of injuries” and extensive damage.
BREAKING: Massive explosion in Beirut. Footage from the daily star office now in Lebanon pic.twitter.com/2uBsKP5wCH
— Ghada Alsharif (@GhadaaSharif) August 4, 2020
My apartment in Beirut was just blown apart. We think it was a missile from a jet. We’re ok.
— Leila Molana-Allen (@Leila_MA) August 4, 2020
UPDATE: Fmr PM Saad Hariri is fine following news.
Two explosions near port in Beirut #Lebanon , second one left lot of damages in houses and cars. Ambulances called to area.
Another video shows magnitude of when it happened pic.twitter.com/lV9p5qMxbu
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 4, 2020
Video of the explosion that rocked #Beirut not long ago
pic.twitter.com/Lt1kahDXEt— Intel Air & Sea (@air_intel) August 4, 2020
Residents told AP that windows were blown out and a false ceilings dropped following the blast. The explosion aused wide scale destruction and shattered windows miles away. An AP photographer near Beirut’s port witnessed people wounded on the ground and widespread destruction in central Beirut.
This is a developing story, more details awaited