UPDATED
Shocking videos capture massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut
Ryan Pickrell
2 hours ago

A screenshot of a video purportedly showing an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. Screenshot/Twitter

A massive explosion shook the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Tuesday, with many feared dead from the blast and resulting shock wave.

The cause of the blast, which originated near the city's port, was not immediately clear. Early reports pointed to a fire at a fireworks storage facility, but the director-general of Lebanese intelligence suggested that confiscated high-explosive materials stored at the local port triggered the explosion.

A red-orange cloud — the color of which could be explained by nitrates — lingered over part of the city after the explosion.

Numerous casualties and extensive damage were reported. Wednesday has been declared a national day of mourning.

A massive explosion and a serious shock wave shook the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Tuesday. Emergency workers are responding to extensive damages and a high number of casualties.

Videos of the huge blast, the cause of which is still unclear, quickly surfaced on social media.
—Nader Itayim | ‌‌نادر ایتیّم (@ncitayim) August 4, 2020
—Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that a fire had broken out at a fireworks warehouse, suggesting that this might have triggered an explosion.
—Ghada Alsharif (@GhadaaSharif) August 4, 2020

Local reports said that the blast was felt many miles away.

—Tobias Schneider (@tobiaschneider) August 4, 2020

Some observers said they suspected that the massive explosion was caused by the ignition of a flammable source such as a container full of fertilizer.
—Abby Sewell (@sewella) August 4, 2020

Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, the director-general of Lebanese intelligence, dismissed the fireworks explanation as "ridiculous," attributing the blast to confiscated high-explosive materials stored at the local port.

But Ibrahim said he would not preempt the investigation.
—Ahmad M. Yassine | أحمد م. ياسين (@Lobnene_Blog) August 4, 2020

A red-orange cloud — the color of which could be explained by nitrates — lingered over the blast site after the explosion.

The extent of the damage remains unclear, but local reports indicated that while the blast was focused on the port area, there was widespread damage in the city.

The National News Agency said there were "countless" casualties. The country's health ministry said that at least 67 people were dead and more than 3,500 have been wounded, the BBC reported.

The country's prime minister said that Wednesday would be a national day of mourning.

A massive explosion just devastated Beirut. Here's what the unbelievable destruction looks like for people on the ground.
Ryan Pickrell
2 hours ago

A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

A devastating explosion rocked Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Tuesday.

The exact cause of the blast is unknown, but a senior Lebanese intelligence official said that he suspects that confiscated high-explosive materials stored at the port where the explosion occurred are to blame.

The country's health ministry says that at least 67 people are dead and more than 3,500 people are injured, BBC reports.

A huge explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut Tuesday caused widespread devastation. The number of casualties and the full extent of the damage are still emerging.

Early state media reporting said the blast followed the outbreak of a fire at a fireworks storage facility at the local port, but the director of Lebanese intelligence pointed to highly-explosive materials that had been confiscated and stored in the area.

The exact cause of the terrible blast, which was captured on video, remains unclear.
—Nader Itayim | ‌‌نادر ایتیّم (@ncitayim) August 4, 2020

The following photos, some of which are GRAPHIC, show the situation on the ground in Beirut.

An orange-red cloud lingered over the blast site shortly after the explosion.

A picture shows the scene of an explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020. Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

The blast caused widespread destruction well beyond the port where the explosion occurred.

A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

The blast, which was felt miles away, severely damaged buildings, blowing out windows and doors and collapsing ceilings.

A picture shows the scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, 2020 Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

A reporter for The Independent who was in the area said the shock wave from the blast "literally pushed us [to] fall to our knees."
—Bel Trew (@Beltrew) August 4, 2020

Emergency workers rushed onto the scene to attend to the wounded, as well as to battle fires in the wake of the explosion.

Firefighter douse a blaze at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

Fires could be seen burning at the port into the evening.

A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

A New York Times reporter shared what she described as "terrifying" footage of the streets of Beirut on social media.
—Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) August 4, 2020

Lebanon's health minister announced that at least 67 people were killed in the explosion. The death toll is feared to be higher.

People carry a wounded man after an explosion at the Port of Beirut. Photo by Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

He added that more than 3,500 people have been injured.

An injured man is treated after a large explosion on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon (Photo by Daniel Carde/Getty Images
Source: BBC

Local media reports have said that hospitals have been overwhelmed by the high number of casualties.

A picture shows the scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

The country's prime minister has declared Wednesday a national day of mourning in response to Tuesday's tragedy.

A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020.. Photo by STR / AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images