Shocking videos capture massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut

Beirut explosion: at least 78 dead and 4,000 wounded, says Lebanon health ministry

Dozens killed, thousands wounded in Beirut explosion

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.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed "deep regret" at the death of an Australian citizen who died in the "horrific blast" in Beirut.

Morrison appeared CNN affiliate Channel 7 Sunrise program on Wednesday and said that he received briefings about the blast but received no information on the cause.



All of the staff from the Australian Embassy in Beirut are accounted for and have sustained minor injuries like cuts and scratches, Morrison said on Channel 9's Today Show on Wednesday morning local. The building itself has been "impacted significantly," he said.

Morrison said that the image of the blast is "absolutely devastating" and acknowledged that there could be 20,000 Australians present at any one time in Beirut. He went on to say there are hundreds of thousands of Australians who have Lebanese descent. 



The death toll from a massive explosion in the capital Beirut on Tuesday had reached 78, Lebanon's health minister has told the Reuters news agency.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan told Reuters that nearly 4,000 people have also been injured.

   

“There are many people missing until now. People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity. We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages," Hassan told Reuters.

The minister earlier said in televised remarks that more than 70+ people had been killed.



President Trump offered sympathy and assistance to the people of Lebanon after an explosion that left dozens dead and thousands injured on Tuesday, referring to the incident as a “terrible attack.” Lebanese officials have not called the explosion an attack.

   

“Let me begin by sending America’s deepest sympathies to the people of Lebanon, where reports indicate that many, many people were killed, hundreds more were very badly wounded in a large explosion in Beirut,” Trump said at a press briefing Tuesday evening. ”Our prayers go out to all the victims and their families. The United States ready to assist Lebanon.”

Trump said the country has a “very good relationship with the people of Lebanon and we will be there to help.”

“Looks like a terrible attack,” Trump said, appearing to look up from notes on his podium.

There were conflicting reports on what caused the explosion, which was initially blamed on a major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers near the port. The director of the general security directorate later said the blast was caused by confiscated "high explosive materials," but did not provide further details.

Asked if he was confident if the explosion was an attack and not an accident, the President said it “seems like” it was, based on what US military officials have told him.

“It would seem like it based on the explosion,” Trump said. “I’ve met with some of our great generals and they just seem to feel that it was not a – some kind of manufacturing explosion type of event. This was a – seems to be according to them, they would know better than I would, but they seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind.”