OREANDA-NEWS. On August 4, a powerful explosion occurred in the port area in the capital of Lebanon, Beirut.

According to the latest data, 78 people were killed in the Lebanese capital. About 3.7 thousand people were injured. The facades of several buildings located near the port collapsed, numerous residential buildings and offices were damaged. According to the governor of the city, hospitals are overcrowded due to the large number of victims.

The head of the Lebanese General Security Directorate, General Abbas Ibrahim, said that according to preliminary data, explosives that had been stored in the port for a long time detonated. The Ministry of Interior reported that the exact cause of the explosion has not been clarified yet.

The Jordan Seismological Observatory determined that the explosion is equivalent to an earthquake of magnitude 4.5.

The authorities declared August 5 a day of mourning in memory of the victims of the catastrophe.