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Tuesday 4 August 2020 17:44
Two massive explosions – one of which appeared to be sparked by the other – have rocked Beirut, destroying buildings and causing a mushroom cloud to rise above the city’s skyline.
Initial reports claimed the blasts were focussed on the Lebanese capital’s port region, with several government sources placing a warehouse storing fireworks at the epicentre.
Footage and images from the scene showed windows and doors caved in by the force of the blast, which could be felt as far away as Cyprus.
Follow below for all the latest updates:
Evacuation operation underway
Evacuation operations are currently underway, state news agency NNA has reported.
The explosion may have been caused by an incident at a firework factory, which ignited a nearby nitrate warehouse, it has been reported.
Nitrates are commonly used in fertiliser, and can be highly explosive.
The force of the explosion was reportedly felt in Cyprus – more than 180km away.
Our international correspondent Borzou Daragahi has shared this footage from the scene, which appears to show a number of smaller explosions before the main blast that has rocked the city.
Lebanon’s state news agency NNA and two security sourceshave told Reuters the blast occurred in the port area where there are warehouses for explosives.
Here is an initial report from our Middle East correspondent Bel Trew, who is in the mountains near the scene
Health minister – explosion caused ‘very high number of injuries’
Lebanon’s Health Minister Hamad Hasan said the explosion had caused a “very high number of injuries” and extensive damage – according to the nation’s LBC television channel.
A massive explosion has rocked central Beirut, sending a mushroom cloud of dust into the air, and leaving people injured.
Videos showed the aftermath of the explosion in the Lebanese capital’s port area, which is right next to the central Downtown area of the city.
The aftershock was felt in the mountains above Beirut, at least 13 miles away, and was so strong it blew out doors and windows in buildings across the city.
Here is what we know so far:
Footage from scene shows mushroom cloud rising above city
Initial footage from the scene has shown the scale of the explosion, which produced a large mushroom cloud that towered over the skyline.
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