VIDEO: Massive Explosion Rocks Beirut [UPDATE]
By Kyle Koster
A massive explosion rocked Beirut this afternoon, its epicenter reportedly near the offices of the Daily Star newspaper. Videos from several different angles show the magnitude of the blast, which had a large mushroom cloud and did stunning damage.
Footage from the massive explosion in Beirut Port, Lebanon pic.twitter.com/bdvzrS05Qf
— Beirut Today (@bey_today) August 4, 2020
Just received this video!!! Everyone stay safe. #Beirut pic.twitter.com/2t5a82Ha67
— Zaiنab Hijazi (@zainabhijazi97) August 4, 2020
Another video from the sea #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/1fM51dQNFl
— Abir Ghattas (@AbirGhattas) August 4, 2020
Beirut: Monent of explosion pic.twitter.com/ucagaT7P3P
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 4, 2020
The cause of the explosion is currently unknown. There are reports the explosion occurred near a fireworks factory.
#BREAKING - #Lebanese media claims the MASSIVE #explosions in #Beirut occurred in a fireworks warehouse. Fireworks can be seen in the video, moments later a secondary explosion caused most of the damage. #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/ddM0tojmlU
— SV News ? (@SVNewsAlerts) August 4, 2020
Stunning video shows explosions just minutes ago at Beirut port pic.twitter.com/ZjltF0VcTr
— Borzou Daragahi ?? (@borzou) August 4, 2020
via signal. fireworks and then an explosion pic.twitter.com/oaEQATSgbT
— ابن بالدوين (@joeyayoub) August 4, 2020
This is a developing story.
UPDATE: The Director-General of Lebanese Security announced the cause of the explosion in a statement.
BREAKING — Director-General of the Lebanese Public Security: What happened [in Beirut] is not a fireworks explosion, but a high-explosive material that was confiscated for years — Al Jazeera
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) August 4, 2020