Dozens of people are feared dead and hundreds have been wounded in a powerful explosion that ripped Lebanon’s capital, Beirut apart, Tuesday.
As seen in live footages, the massive explosion at Beirut’s port sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage to buildings and shattering different parts of the capital.
The exact cause of the explosion was not immediately clear as of the time of this reporting.
🇱🇧 | Beirut: pic.twitter.com/W54LsRQ74g
— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) August 4, 2020
According to Aljazeera’s report, Mohammed Fahmi, Lebanon’s interior minister, said it appeared to have been caused by ammonium nitrate that was stored in a warehouse at the port.
Hamad Hassan, Lebanon’s health minister, reportedly said hundreds were wounded in the explosion.
While security sources put the initial death toll at 10, medical and rescue teams on the ground said dozens have been killed.
Rescue operations are still ongoing. Hospital spaces in the capital were reported to have been filled up as overwhelmed responders struggle to safe hundreds of lives.
