Dozens are dead and thousands are injured after a massive explosion Tuesday in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.
The cause of the blast, near the city's port, remains unclear. It was initially blamed on a major fire at a warehouse for firecrackers, the state-run National News Agency reported. The director of the general security directorate later said the blast was caused by "high-explosive materials confiscated years ago," but he did not provide further details.
The explosion blew out windows in buildings across the city and could be felt as far as Cyprus, hundreds of miles away. A red cloud hung over the city as firefighting teams rushed to the scene.
Rescue crews search a street for survivors on Tuesday night. "People are asking the emergency department about their loved ones, and it is difficult to search at night because there is no electricity," Health Minister Hamad Hassan told the Reuters news agencyn. "We are facing a real catastrophe and need time to assess the extent of damages."
CNN
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