scorecardA massive explosion just devastated Beirut. Here's what the unbelievable destruction looks like for people on the ground.
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A massive explosion just devastated Beirut. Here's what the unbelievable destruction looks like for people on the ground.

Ryan Pickrell   

A massive explosion just devastated Beirut. Here's what the unbelievable destruction looks like for people on the ground.
A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020.(Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images
  • A devastating explosion rocked Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Tuesday.
  • The exact cause of the blast is unknown, but a senior Lebanese intelligence official said that he suspects that confiscated high-explosive materials stored at the port, where the explosion occurred, are to blame.
  • The country's health minister said that at least 30 people are dead and more than 3,000 people are injured.

A huge explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut Tuesday caused widespread devastation. The number of casualties and the full extent of the damage is still emerging.

Early state media reporting said the the blast followed the outbreak of a fire at a fireworks storage facility at the local port, but the director of Lebanese intelligence said that it may have been caused by high-explosive materials that had been previously confiscated and stored in the area. The exact cause of the blast remains unknown.

The following photos, some of which are GRAPHIC, show the situation on the ground in Beirut.

An orange-red cloud lingered over the blast site shortly after the explosion.

An orange-red cloud lingered over the blast site shortly after the explosion.
A picture shows the scene of an explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020.      Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

The blast caused widespread destruction well beyond the port where the explosion occurred.

The blast caused widespread destruction well beyond the port where the explosion occurred.
A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut.      Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

The blast, which was felt miles away, severely damaged buildings, blowing out windows and doors and collapsing ceilings.

The blast, which was felt miles away, severely damaged buildings, blowing out windows and doors and collapsing ceilings.
A picture shows the scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, 2020      Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

A reporter for The Independent who was in the area said the shock wave from the blast "literally pushed us [to] fall to our knees."

 

Emergency workers rushed onto the scene to attend to the wounded, as well as to battle fires in the wake of the explosion.

Emergency workers rushed onto the scene to attend to the wounded, as well as to battle fires in the wake of the explosion.
Firefighter douse a blaze at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020.      Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

Fires could be seen burning at the port into the evening.

Fires could be seen burning at the port into the evening.
A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020.      (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

Emergency firefighting assets, including helicopters, were called up in response.

Emergency firefighting assets, including helicopters, were called up in response.
A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020      Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon's health minister announced that at least 30 people were killed in the explosion. The death toll is believed to be significantly higher.

Lebanon
People carry a wounded man after an explosion at the Port of Beirut.      Photo by Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

He added that more than 3,000 people have been injured.

He added that more than 3,000 people have been injured.
An injured man is treated after a large explosion on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon      (Photo by Daniel Carde/Getty Images

Local media reports have said that hospitals have been overwhelmed by the high number of casualties.

Local media reports have said that hospitals have been overwhelmed by the high number of casualties.
A picture shows the scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, 2020.      Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

The country's prime minister has declared a national day of mourning in response to Tuesday's tragedy.

The country
A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020..      Photo by STR / AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images

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