The first explosion at the port, according to Hezbollah’s official al-Manar TV, began with an electrical spark.
Beirut governor Philip Boulos says that a team of first responders was dispatched to deal with the fire. The first fire, which burned for several minutes, led to a second, much more powerful explosion, which destroyed nearby buildings and shattered windows across the city.
The second explosion, according to Lebanese Customs Director Badri Daher, was caused by “nitrates.”
A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Beirut, on August 4, 2020 (IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP)
The firefighters are still missing, Boulos said, possibly lost under the rubble in the collapsed port.
Lebanese media has reported that dozens have died and hundreds have been wounded, although there has been no official confirmation on the number of casualties.
— Aaron Boxerman
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