A large explosion rocked the port area in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday, injuring many people as glass shattered and balconies collapsed from the impact, Reuters witnesses said.
Lebanon’s state news agency said the blast had occurred where there are warehouses housing explosives. It was not immediately clear what caused the blast or what kind of explosives were in the warehouses.
“I saw a fireball and smoke billowing over Beirut. People were screaming and running, bleeding. Balconies were blown off buildings. Glass in high-rise buildings shattered and fell to the street,” an eyewitness said.
Absolutely horrifying video of the explosion in Beirut. pic.twitter.com/GN0QWNxJY9
— Philip DeFranco (@PhillyD) August 4, 2020
Local broadcaster LBC quoted the Lebanon’s Health Minister as saying there was a “very high number” of injures and a large amount of damage. Al Mayadeen television said hundreds were wounded.
Another witness said she saw heavy grey smoke near the port area and then heard an explosion and saw flames of fire and black smoke.
“All the downtown area windows are smashed and there are wounded people walking around. It is total chaos,” she said.