On Tuesday, the Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked by a massive explosion leaving over 50 dead and thousands injured.
Lebanon’s health minister claims approximately 3,000 people have been wounded in the blast which could be heard over 125 miles away in Cyprus according to witnesses.
Multiple videos have emerged showing massive plumes of smoke emerging from the city’s port areas with a massive explosion following shortly afterward. The explosion obliterated surrounding buildings leaving raging fires that firefighters were still battling late into the evening.
Damage occurred to districts miles away from the blast, highlighting the sheer enormity of the explosion.
In an official statement, General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim said, “It appears that there is a warehouse containing material that was confiscated years ago, and it appears that it was highly explosive material.”
Originally built in 2014, the warehouse contained a mix of fertilizer and fireworks according to public officials. Lebanese Prime Minister Hasan Diab issued a televised address where he commented that “those responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price,” declaring the following Wednesday a day of national mourning.
