A massive blast rocked Lebanese capital, Beirut, causing widespread damage.
Video posted online showed a large mushroom cloud and destroyed buildings.
💥 Footage from off the coast of the Beirut explosion #Lebanonpic.twitter.com/Hsi1CTwPgD
— PiQ (@PriapusIQ) August 4, 2020
UPDATE: Fmr PM Saad Hariri is fine following news.
Two explosions near port in Beirut #Lebanon , second one left lot of damages in houses and cars. Ambulances called to area.
Another video shows magnitude of when it happened pic.twitter.com/lV9p5qMxbu
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 4, 2020
The Reuters reported that at least 10 people died, while hundreds were injured.
The reason for the explosion was still unclear but Lebanon’s National News Agency reported a fire breaking out at what it called an explosives depot at the port. Local media showed people trapped beneath rubble.
The explosions come amid political tension in Lebanon, with street demonstrations against the government’s handling the worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
There has also been tension on the border with Israel, which said last week that it had thwarted an attempt by Hezbollah to infiltrate Israeli territory.
Tensions are also high ahead of the verdict in a trial over the killing of ex-PM Rafik Hariri in 2005. A UN tribunal is due to issue its verdict in the trial of four suspects in the murder by car bomb of Hariri on Friday.