The video shows a huge explosion rocking in central Beirut

A crowded explosion erupted in central Beirut, injuring thousands of people and smashing the windows of city buildings. This explosion near the port of the Lebanese capital sent a huge cloud-shaped mushroom, overturning cars and damaging remote buildings. It felt hundreds of miles to Cyprus. At least 25 people have been killed in the blast and more than 2,500 people injured, Health Minister Hamad Hassan said. The film on stage caught the wounded on the streets of the capital; and ambulances, cars and military vehicles packed with wounded. One eyewitness described the scenes “as an apocalypse”. There were conflicting reports of what caused the blast, which was initially blamed on a major fire in a warehouse for firecrackers near the port, according to the NNA. The director of general security later said the blast was “confiscated high-explosive material,” but did not provide further details. A red cloud hung over the city as a result of the explosion, as firefighters rushed to the scene to try to put out the fire. At least 10 firefighters were missing, city governor Marwan Abboud said, recalling scenes from “Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” “I’ve never had destruction on this scale in my life,” Abboud said. “This is a national catastrophe.” The explosion came during a period of tension in Lebanon. A UN-backed panel on Friday will rule in 2005 on the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, fearing it would lead to sectarian tensions. The country is also in the midst of a disintegrating economy, with global unemployment, deposit money and poverty rates above 50%. Ben Wedeman’s CNN reports. #Beirut #CNN #Notes.

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