At least two large explosions rocked Beirut this afternoon, leaving at least 25 dead and dozens wounded and causing widespread damage across the city.
The explosions appeared to hit the port area of the Lebanese capital. In videos posted on social media a large building can be seen exploding, leading to a huge shockwave. Initial reports suggested that the blasts were felt across the city, with significant damage sustained to offices and apartments.
Lebanese officials said the blast was caused by a fireworks storehouse at the city’s port catching fire.
Dozens of people were wounded, according to initial estimates.
Video shared on social media appeared to show a large fire and detonations at a building followed shortly afterwards by an enormous blast that enveloped a broad area in a cloud of smoke.
The explosion sent a gargantuan shockwave across the city, blowing out windows miles away and sowing havoc across a large area.
Destroyed cars had been abandoned in the street with their airbags inflated.
A huge cloud of black smoke was engulfing the entire port area, the AFP correspondent said.
“It felt like an earthquake … I felt it was bigger than the explosion in the assassination of [former prime minister] Rafik Hariri in 2005,” said a woman in the city center.
Destroyed cars had been abandoned in the street with their airbags inflated.
A huge cloud of black smoke was engulfing the entire port area, the AFP correspondent said.
“It felt like an earthquake … I felt it was bigger than the explosion in the assassination of [former prime minister] Rafik Hariri in 2005,” said a woman in the city center.
Other footage, taken from some distance from the incident showed a huge cloud of smoke rising above the city and the sounds of two blasts in close succession.
The explosions came at a time when Lebanon i suffering its worst economic crisis in decades, which has left nearly half of the population in poverty.
