The explosions come at a time of tumult. Lebanon's economic and financial crisis poses the most significant threat to the country since a devastating 15-year civil war ended in 1990. Follow CBCNews for live updates.
Posted: Aug 04, 2020 12:01 PM ET | Last Updated: August 4A massive blast rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital.
An Associated Press photographer near the port saw people lying injured on the ground, and hospitals called for blood donations. Video taken by residents showed a fire raging at the port, sending up a giant column of smoke, illuminated by flashes of what appear to be fireworks. Local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved.
Charbel Haj, who works at the port, said it started as small explosions like firecrackers, then the huge blast erupted and he was thrown off his feet. His clothes were torn.Huge explosion in Beirut now. My office... pic.twitter.com/jx8wuKPXf5CBC News contributor Rebecca Collard says the damage from the blast in Beirut's port Tuesday was experienced from kilometres away.
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross told local TV there were hundreds of casualties although many were superficial wounds from broken glass.The explosions come at a time of tumult. Lebanon's economic and financial crisis poses the most significant threat to the country since a devastating 15-year civil war ended in 1990. The highly indebted government is facing a rapid inflation, soaring unemployment and poverty, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.
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