A huge explosion has ripped through Lebanon's capital, Beirut, shuttering windows and damaging buildings.
The powerful blast on Tuesday shook several parts of Beirut, sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky. Initial reports suggested the explosion took place in Beirut's port area containing warehouses.
The blast wave from the explosion has caused extensive damage to buildings within a large radius of the blast site.
The cause of the explosion remained unknown. "The force of the blast was massive," said Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut. "I was walking in the street and I was thrown to the ground," Khodr added. "There's panic and chaos; glass everywhere." Aljazeera