Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE.
Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut was rocked by a massive explosion on Tuesday that was captured in jarring video footage.
Several videos began to emerge on social media after a large blast was seen and heard at the Lebanese capital. A large mushroom cloud could be seen erupting in some video footage that captured the massive blast.
Here’s a video of the moments following the initial explosion in Beirut before the massive second blast. Appears to be either munitions or fireworks. pic.twitter.com/BPLRi4Nrvs
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020
Buildings and offices around the city reportedly suffered damage after the explosion that allegedly was triggered by a fire at a warehouse storing fireworks, according to the state-run National News Agency, CNN reported.
RAW FOOTAGE: Massive explosion shakes Lebanon’s capital Beirut; no word yet on cause or casualties @AbirGhattas
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 4, 2020
As footage emerged, the massive extent of the damage could be seen.
Devastating aftermath in Beirut – https://t.co/z9EGXFwncWpic.twitter.com/1cFVvTcBtU
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 4, 2020
Reports that there were many injuries and many feared dead also were shared but nothing was, as yet, confirmed.
The explosion sent a shock wave that was caught on camera.
Here’s a video of the Beirut explosion from a long distance away. It shifted the clouds. Turn your sound on and wait for the shockwave to hit. pic.twitter.com/N96583ucrR
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020
Close to ground zero in this video of the explosion in Beirut. pic.twitter.com/cjgZQ4NBG7
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020
Witnesses reported that the blast hit at the city’s port and some video captured the moment on the water nearby.
BREAKING: Massive explosion rocks area near Beirut port; cause of blast unknown @timourazhari
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 4, 2020
Here’s the Beirut explosion captured from a boat. pic.twitter.com/DUB7cev6jD
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020
Another view of the Beirut explosion from (another) boat. pic.twitter.com/xHvDZxExfP
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020
A red cloud could be seen in the sky as well and photos soon emerged of damage to nearby buildings.
ولع لبنان 😡😡😡#انفجار pic.twitter.com/neicDdmwCJ
— Edwin Azzi (@Edwinazzi) August 4, 2020
These pictures show the scene of an explosion in Beirut, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city pic.twitter.com/RAwM7AaxVE
— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 4, 2020
One minute after I woke up two big explosions happened in #Beirut and I found myself flying back from the hit, I thought the building was going down. Anyway, I am ok, not sure what happened all the area around me in Mar Mkhayel is destroyed like my place. pic.twitter.com/JN2i4IYnjH
— Mohamad محمد (@monajem) August 4, 2020
Before reports on the cause or precise location emerged, with the BBC reporting that the explosion was near the offices of the Daily Star newspaper.
This is Beirut. Scene of the offices at the Daily Star local newspaper. pic.twitter.com/ll9dC3EivY
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020
The outlet also noted tensions due to the imminent verdict in a UN-backed tribunal on the murder of former Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri in 2005. Four suspects in the car-bombing murder of Hariri, all allegedly members of Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim fundamentalist group, are being tried in absentia over the suicide bombing which killed Hariri and 21 others.
Some speculation circulated that the location of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut was connected with a Hezbollah weapons assembly line.
Major blast at the International airport of Beirut, Lebanon. Just a reminder – this is where Israel said that Hezbollah is having its weapon percision assembly line. pic.twitter.com/DAdGUlzenQ
— Amir Tsarfati (@BeholdIsrael) August 4, 2020
Other views of the fire and subsequent blast raised more questions as some witnesses said they believed a “missile” was the cause of the explosion.
#BREAKING – Secondary angle of an array of explosions in #Beirut, #Lebanon.
Conflicting reports on the cause and location of the explosions. Reports say that witnesses saw a ‘missile’ being the cause of the secondary explosion, #Lebanese officials say it occurred near fireworks pic.twitter.com/RNIvsP5l8y
— SV News 🚨 (@SVNewsAlerts) August 4, 2020
Hamad Hassan, Lebanon’s Health Minister, reportedly claimed a ship carrying fireworks exploded in the Beirut Port.
#BREAKING – MASSIVE damage reported in #Beirut, #Lebanon following an incredibly large explosion.
The Lebanese Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, says a ship carrying fireworks exploded in the Beirut Port. pic.twitter.com/wQj8uINbg6
— SV News 🚨 (@SVNewsAlerts) August 4, 2020
This is a breaking news story and more details will be published as they become available.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
