Beirut: A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city's port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. More than 100 people were killed and 4,000 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said.
It was not clear what caused the blast, which struck with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, according to Germany's geosciences center GFZ, and was heard and felt as far away as Cyprus more than 200 kilometers (180 miles) across the Mediterranean.
Lebanon's interior minister said it appeared that a large cache of ammonium nitrate in the port had detonated.
The sudden devastation overwhelmed a country already struggling with both the coronavirus pandemic and a severe economic and financial crisis.
For hours after the explosion, the most destructive in all of Lebanon's troubled history, ambulances rushed in from around the country to carry away the wounded. Hospitals quickly filled beyond capacity, pleading for blood supplies, and generators to keep their lights on.
For blocks around the port, bloodied residents staggered through streets lined with overturned cars and littered with rubble from shattered buildings.
Windows and doors were blown out kilometers (miles) away, including at the city's only international airport. Army helicopters helped battle fires raging at the port.
Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi told a local TV station that it appeared the blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse at the dock ever since it was confiscated from a cargo ship in 2014.
Witnesses reported seeing an orange cloud like that which appears when toxic nitrogen dioxide gas is released after an explosion involving nitrates.
Videos showed what appeared to be a fire erupting nearby just before, and local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved. The fire appeared to spread to a nearby building, triggering the more massive explosion, sending up a mushroom cloud and generating a shock wave.
Health Minister Hassan Hamad said the preliminary toll was more than 100 dead and more than 4,000 wounded. He added that hospitals were barely coping and offers of aid were pouring in from Arab states and friends of Lebanon.
Beirut's governor, Marwan Abboud, broke into tears as he toured the site, exclaiming, Beirut is a devastated city.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those responsible will pay.
The explosion also raises concerns about how Lebanon will continue to import nearly all of its vital goods with its main port devastated.
Explosions just days ahead of Hariri assassination case verdict
The explosion reminiscent of the massive blasts that often erupted during Lebanon's civil war happened only three days before a UN-backed tribunal was set to give its verdict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a truck bombing more than 15 years ago. That explosion, with a ton of explosives, was felt kilometers (miles) away, just as Tuesday's was.
Beirut explosion a likely attack, says Trump
President Donald Trump said US military generals have told him that they seem to feel the massive explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday, killing at least 100 people, was a terrible attack likely caused by a bomb.
I met with some of our great generals and they just seem to feel that it was. This was not a some kind of a manufacturing explosion type of a event. ... They seem to think it was a attack. It was a bomb of some kind, yes.
A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the matter Tuesday night, referring questions back to the White House.
The explosion came amid ongoing tensions between Israel and the Hezbollah military group on Lebanon's southern border.
Many residents reported hearing planes overhead just before the blast, fueling rumors of an attack, though Israeli military overflights are common.
An Israeli government official said Israel had nothing to do with the blast. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter with the news media. Israeli officials usually do not comment on foreign reports.
Experts dismiss 'attack' theory
But one of Israel's top bomb experts, Boaz Hayoun, said fireworks could have been a factor setting off the bigger blast. Before the big explosion ... in the center of the fire, you can see sparks, you can hear sounds like popcorn and you can hear whistles, said Hayoun, owner of the Tamar Group, which works closely with the Israeli government on safety and certification issues involving explosives.
This is very specific behavior of fireworks.
Help on
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Lebanon.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting Lebanon at this difficult time, and is actively assisting in the response to this incident, read a statement from the UN.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said one of the UNIFIL ships of the Maritime Task Force docked in the port was damaged, leaving some UNIFIL naval peacekeepers injured, some of them seriously.
The Israeli government too offered emergency assistance through international intermediaries.
President Donald Trump said the US stands ready to assist Lebanon," and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo extended his deepest condolences.
Our team in Beirut has reported to me the extensive damage to a city and a people that I hold dear, an additional challenge in a time of already deep crisis, Pompeo said in a written statement.
The blast was stunning even for a city that has seen a 15-year civil war, suicide bombings, bombardment by Israel and political assassinations.
(With inputs from agencies)
