Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut was on Tuesday struck by twin explosions in the afternoon centred around its port region, which killed at least ten according to a Reuters report.
A smaller blast was followed by a much larger one, which shattered windows across the city and led to some false ceilings collapsing. AFP reporter Maya Gebeilly tweeted saying that hospitals have been turning people away as they are either too full or too damaged to take them in. Lebanese Red Cross said hundreds were injured while many still remained trapped beneath the rubble.
Terrifying, from Beirut. pic.twitter.com/NOAog0Xqyo
— Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) August 4, 2020
Footage of the explosion shows a smaller explosion and ensuing fire at first, with several small explosions audible—similar to the sound of firecrackers—which was suddenly followed by a much larger blast that enveloped the port.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A large explosion rocked Beirut, injuring many people as glass shattered and balconies collapsed from the impact https://t.co/xH1q1gtlco pic.twitter.com/t5XPj8CkA0
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 4, 2020
Lebanese media reported that the blast took place at a fireworks factory. Al Mayadeen news quoted Major General Abbas Ibrahim as saying that the blast could have taken place at a warehouse that was storing explosives materials confiscated over time.
The explosion comes as Lebanon awaits a controversial court verdict on Friday, when a UN-backed court will deliver judgement on four members of the Shi’ite Hezbollah over the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005.
Israel has issued a statement saying it had nothing to do with the blast, news agencies reported.
