Massive Explosion Rocks Central Beirut [VIDEO]

The Guardian reports:

A massive explosion has rocked central Beirut that shattered windows, knocked down doors and shook buildings several hundred feet away. The source of the blast, which appeared to occur around the Lebanese capital’s port, is unclear.

An enormous cloud of smoke could be seen from across the city and witnesses said there were reports of a fire and several smaller explosions at the port that preceded the large blast after 6pm on Tuesday.

The office of the Daily Star newspaper about 400 metres from the port was among the buildings to sustain damage from the explosion.

BREAKING: Massive explosion in Beirut. Footage from the daily star office now in Lebanon pic.twitter.com/2uBsKP5wCH

— Ghada Alsharif (@GhadaaSharif) August 4, 2020

A video I received on WhatsApp of the scalr of explosion in #Beirut, confirming it was at the port. pic.twitter.com/bIkcyfsi0o

— Bissan Fakih (@BissanCampaigns) August 4, 2020

A view of the explosion from the coast in Beirut. That’s massive. pic.twitter.com/qmnNEC5jPI

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2020