Share
BEIRUT — Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital. Witnesses saw many people injured by flying glass and debris.
An Associated Press photographer near the port saw people lying injured on the ground, and hospitals called for blood donations, but exact casualties were not immediately known.
Miles from the scene of the blast, balconies were knocked down, ceiling collapsed and windows were shattered.
Explosion in #Beirut #Lebanon – view from Annahar building. Praying for everyone’s safety 🙏🏼😓 pic.twitter.com/Zf6fXaahUq
— Fady Roumieh (@FadyRoumieh) August 4, 2020
The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. It came at a time when Lebanon is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades.
It also comes amid rising tensions between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon’s southern border.
Online video showed a column of smoke rising from the port area from what appeared to be an initial explosion, followed by a massive blast that sent up a mushroom cloud and a shock wave racing over the city.
Some local TV stations reported the blast was at Beirut’s port inside an area where fireworks were stored.
California Farm Donates Hundreds of Thousands of Eggs to Wildfire Victims, First Responders
14 hours ago
Editorials of The Times: Now Is Not the Time to Tune Out
15 hours ago
USAID in Turmoil as Aid Programs Cut, Staff Stranded
16 hours ago
Look Past Elon Musk’s Chaos. There’s Something More Sinister at Work.
16 hours ago
Kellen Moore Exits Eagles to Become Saints Head Coach
16 hours ago
The Deadly Truth: Record Number of Journalists Killed in 2024
17 hours ago
Apartments Planned for North Fresno Land at Audubon Avenue
25 seconds ago
Categories

Apartments Planned for North Fresno Land at Audubon Avenue

Fresno Location Is Among the 500 JOANN Fabrics Closures

California Farm Donates Hundreds of Thousands of Eggs to Wildfire Victims, First Responders

Editorials of The Times: Now Is Not the Time to Tune Out
