The strong explosion, which took place in the port area and whose origin was not immediately known, was heard in several sectors of the city. The windows of many buildings and shops were shattered for miles around.
The port sector has been cordoned off by the security forces, which only allow civil defense, the ballet of ambulances with screaming sirens and fire trucks to pass. On the outskirts of the port district, the damage and destruction is considerable.
Local media broadcast images of people trapped under rubble, some covered in blood.
According to preliminary information from local media, the explosion was the result of an incident at the port of Beirut.