Beirut blast: Frantic search for survivors of deadly explosion

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is reeling from a huge blast, which has killed dozens, injured thousands and caused widespread destruction in the city.

There are reports that the blast could be felt hundreds of kilometres away in Cyprus.

Rescue workers in Lebanon are searching for more than a hundred people who are missing after a huge explosion devastated the port area of the capital Beirut on Tuesday.

The blast killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others.

The whole city was shaken by the explosion and a mushroom cloud could be seen spreading over the port area.

President Michel Aoun said the blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse.

Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertiliser in agriculture and as an explosive.

The country will observe an official period of mourning for three days from Wednesday.

Local media showed people trapped beneath rubble and video footage showed wrecked cars and blast-damaged buildings. Hospitals were said to be overwhelmed.

The head of Lebanon’s Red Cross, George Kettani, described it as a “huge catastrophe”, adding: “There are victims and casualties everywhere.”

His organization said more than 100 people had died and that search and rescue operations was still underway to locate the more than 100 people missing.