A massive explosion shook the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Tuesday, with many feared dead from the blast and the shock wave.
However, the cause of the blast, which originated near the city’s port, was not immediately clear. While early reports pointed to a fire at a fireworks storage facility. The director-general of Lebanese intelligence suggested that confiscated high-explosive materials stored at the local port triggered the explosion.
A cloud the red-orange color of which could be explained by nitrates lingered over part of the city after the explosion and was captured in shocking videos taken by Lebanese citizens. Lebanon’s national news agency said there were numerous casualties. Extensive damage has also been reported across the city. Wednesday was declared a national day of mourning.
Moreover, a massive explosion and a serious shock wave shook the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Tuesday. Emergency workers were responding, but the severity of the damage and the number of casualties wasn’t immediately clear.
Videos of the huge blast, the cause of which was also unclear, quickly surfaced on social media:
