A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky in what experts said is likely a horrible accident.
A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, killing dozens, flattening much of the port and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky in what experts said is likely a horrible accident — though President Trump referred to it as an “attack.” More than 70 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said. The cause of the blast, which sparked fires, overturned cars and blew out windows and doors, was not immediately known. Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was confiscated from a ship some time ago and stored at the port. Local television channel LBC said the material was sodium nitrate.
