Massive Explosions In Beirut Kill At Least 80, Injure Thousands; Widespread Devastation

💥 Updated, 7:45 PM ET (12:01 AM UTC/GMT, Wed 05 Aug 2020)

💥 Speculation and fear after massive explosion in Beirut - Jerusalem Post

💥 Beirut blasts damaged UN ship, badly injured crew - Al Arabiya, which also reports at least 75 dead and 3,700 injured.

💥 Some excellent live reporting by BBC News about the Beirut explosions

💥 A report from USA Today (emphasis added): "Though the cause of the explosion was yet to be officially determined, Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was stored at the port after it was confiscated from a ship. Television channel LBC [Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation] said the material was sodium nitrate. Mohammed Fahmi, Lebanon's interior minister, told Al-Jazeera news the blast appeared to have been caused by ammonium nitrate that was stored in a warehouse. Ammonium nitrate, used in chemical fertilizer production, was a component of the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995." 

💥  Bill Neely (@BillNeelyNBC) tweeted this at 5:29 PM ET: "Lebanese Prime Minister says #Beirut explosions caused by an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate left unsecured for 6 years in a warehouse. He vows to punish officials responsible. 50+ dead, 3,000 injured, hospitals overwhelmed."  (For comparison, in 1995 Timothy McVeigh blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City with two tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer mixed with fuel oil.)

Earlier:

A horrific explosion in a port of Lebanon's capital rocked the city. There are stunning videos of the big explosion, which was preceded by a smaller one moments earlier.

CP24 (Canada):

A large explosion is seen in a port area of Beirut, Lebanon
Aug. 4, 2020. (Twitter/@GinoRaidy)

Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital. Witnesses saw many people injured by flying glass and debris.

An Associated Press photographer near the port saw people lying injured on the ground, and hospitals called for blood donations, but exact casualties were not immediately known.

Miles from the scene of the blast, balconies were knocked down, ceiling collapsed and windows were shattered. 

💥 Horrific Devastation:

Videos continue to reveal more and more of the devastation caused in #Beirut, #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/vEHyh4iTrS

— Aurora Intel - #StayHome (@AuroraIntel) August 4, 2020

The Associated Press (emphasis added):

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. It came at a time when Lebanon is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. It also comes amid rising tensions between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon’s southern border.

There were two blasts. The second one almost appears to come from underground. If so, it raises a question. Was something explosive being stored there? | https://t.co/q4IEiS36rr

— Mike (@Doranimated) August 4, 2020

The local Red Cross immediately called for all available personnel to help.