Massive explosion rocks Beirut

.. # pic.twitter.com/wCRR258wYY

— (@ShehabAgency) August 4, 2020

A massive explosion rocked Beirut today, obliterating buildings in the port district and sending a visible shockwave through much the city. The cause remains unclear and there are no specifics yet on casualties.

Video posted to Twitter by the Shehab news agency (embedded above) shows a column of smoke already rising from fires near a large grain silo before the explosion occurs. Other video appears to show fireworks sparkling in the fire, suggesting a cause for it and the larger blast that followed. Others interpret it as ammunition "cooking off", implying a weapons storage site.

a secondary angle showing fireworks going off before the explosion pic.twitter.com/V6vsTAly00

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) August 4, 2020

The BBC notes that the blast came as locals awaited the verdict in a trial over the killing of ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 and reports that Lebanon's health minister warned of many injuries.

The large building in the footage the Harbor Grain Silo. Silo dust often causes spectacular explosions, but extant footage suggests the fire had not reached them.

More footage from different angles:

i thinks this is one of the scariest things Ive seen in a while, cant possibly imagine how terrifying it is to be in Beirut right now pic.twitter.com/qLw1zkJWa1

— ivan (@ukrhoe) August 4, 2020

another angle pic.twitter.com/cYAMsfATty

— (@0xD15EA5E) August 4, 2020

Huge explosion in Beirut now. My office...