Unbelievable footage as massive explosion rocks Beirut
A large blast in the Lebanese capital of Beirut has killed at least 70 people and injured more than 2,700, the health minister explains.
Videos have quickly gone viral of the incident, which show smoke billowing from a fire and then a mushroom cloud after the blast in the middle of the city.
President Michel Aoun has tweeted that it was "unacceptable" that highly explosive material was stored in a warehouse for six years, with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate being stored unsafely.
Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed and many buildings have been destroyed.
Videos taken by shocked residents show a fire raging at the port, which sent up a giant column of smoke. The fire then appeared to catch at a nearby building, which triggered a more massive explosion and sent a cloud of thick smoke and a shock wave over the city.
"It was like a nuclear explosion," said Walid Abdo, a 43-year-old school teacher in the neighbourhood of Gemayzeh near Beirut.
"I saw a fireball and smoke billowing over Beirut. People were screaming and running, bleeding. Balconies were blown off buildings. Glass in high-rise buildings shattered and fell to the street," a witness told Reuters.
Another witness says she saw heavy grey smoke near the port area and then heard an explosion.
"All the downtown area windows are smashed and there are wounded people walking around. It is total chaos," she said.
President Aoun has declared a three-day mourning period and said that the government would release 100 billion lire ($66 million) of emergency funds.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that it was a catastrophe and that those responsible must be held to account.
Lebanon's prime minister also called for international help: "I make an urgent appeal to friendly and brotherly countries... to stand by Lebanon and to help us heal our deep wounds," Hassan Diab said.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the "UK is ready to provide support in any way we can, including to those British nationals affected", and US President Donald Trump sent his deepest sympathies after what he called "a terrible attack".
France is also sending aid and resources to Lebanon and Israel said in a statement that it had "approached Lebanon through international security and diplomatic channels and has offered the Lebanese government medical and humanitarian assistance".
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said one Australian had been killed and Australia's embassy had been "impacted significantly" in the explosion.
"We can report all of the staff there are well, but the building that the embassy is in has been significantly compromised. I'm pleased that apart from some cuts and scratches, our staff are all OK," he said.
"But our sympathies to all of the people of Lebanon. There is such a large Lebanese Australian community here and they would be worried about loved ones."