A pair of powerful explosions has decimated the port in Lebanon's capital city.
The BBC reported two explosions near the port of Beirut on Tuesday afternoon. The first sent plumes of smoke into the air, while the second was much more destructive. Various social media posts that captured the second blast showed a massive shockwave moving through the area.
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The BBC reported many buildings in the immediate area to be damaged or destroyed. As of early Tuesday evening in the Eastern time zone, at least 100 people were reported dead, and as many as 4,000 people were injured.
Lebanon's internal security chief reported to the British network that the blast occurred in an area where highly-explosive material was stored. Initial findings indicated that the explosions were accidental.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, in an address to the nation, blamed the blast on a shipment of over 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was left unsecured for about six years, a situation he deemed "unacceptable".
"I will not rest until we find the person responsible for what happened, to hold him accountable and impose the most severe penalties," said Diab, as reported by NBC News.
“Absolutely tragic news coming out of Beirut. Canadians are thinking of everyone who has been injured and all those who are trying to locate a friend or family member or have lost a loved one. We’re keeping you in our thoughts and we stand ready to assist in any way we can.”
— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) August 4, 2020
Hospitals across the area have been inundated with injured people, with some of them travelling to Tripoli, 50 miles away, for treatment.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut told ABC News that toxic gases were released into the air. A security alert was issued by the embassy, warning people to "stay indoors and wear masks if available".
