Widespread destruction reported in central Beirut

An Associated Press photographer near Beirut’s port says he witnessed people wounded on the ground and widespread destruction in central Beirut.

Lebanese media carried images of people trapped under rubble, some bloodied, after the massive explosion.

The loud blast in Beirut’s port area was felt across large parts of the city and some districts lost electricity.

“Buildings are shaking,” tweeted one resident, while another wrote: “An enormous, deafening explosion just engulfed Beirut. Heard it from miles away”.

Online footage from a Lebanese newspaper office shows blown out windows, scattered furniture and demolished interior paneling.

The Lebanese city of Beirut has experienced a huge blast, thought to have been in the area of the docks, which has shattered windows and rocked buildings.

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 4, 2020

— AP and AFP