Officials said they expect the death toll to rise further after the blast, with emergency workers having to dig through rubble to rescue people and remove the dead.
This is the most powerful explosion in years to hit Beirut, a city already struggling with an economic crisis and increase in coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab promised there would be accountability for the blast at the “dangerous warehouse”, adding “those responsible will pay the price”.
Footage of the explosion posted on social media showed a column of smoke rising from the port, followed by an enormous blast, sending a white cloud and a fireball into the sky.
source: express.co.uk