Beirut blast: From a gorgeous bride's terrified run to a maid's courage, these shocking videos capture horrors
A massive explosion rocked Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Tuesday, August 4 taking the lives of at least 137 people and injuring thousands. The blast which is said to have been a result of years of inaction and negligence on the storing of highly explosive material has made headlines across the globe with many able to capture the terrifying explosion on video.
Initially, heavy smoke is seen billowing out of Beirut's port while many people in the city captured it on film on their cellphones. A few seconds later, a large white explosion occurs which was also seen on video from various angles. The videos captured are as follows:
Videos from the ground:
These videos have been taken at the street-level with many passersby filming the initial smoke cloud on their phones until the blast rips through. The impact of the blast is very visible from these videos.
#BeirutBlast This is a video that I received from another angle - the person who shot it is OK.
โ Faheem (@faheem_chuhdary) August 5, 2020
Remember; many people usually jog/walk on the Beirut waterfront (close to the explosion).
Many people thought they just were documenting a big fire in the sea port. #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/f9vlSaFSYJ
Another footage from #Beirut shows an initial fire, with what seems like fireworks, and then another huge explosion pic.twitter.com/5zizBG1EZw
โ Guy Elster (@guyelster) August 5, 2020
Videos from the water:
These are the videos that were taken from the water with the effects of the blast ripping through the top of the waves shortly after the explosion.
lebanon #beirut
โ Pawan Kalyan Holicsโข (@PSPKHolics) August 4, 2020
This is not a movie seen That just happened in Beirut, Lebanon.
Please pray for everyone who was there !
2020 ๐๐๐๐#beirutexplosion pic.twitter.com/YxohHJC4MU
Videos from a height:
Stunning video shows explosions just minutes ago at Beirut port pic.twitter.com/ZjltF0VcTr
โ Borzou Daragahi ๐๐ (@borzou) August 4, 2020
Blast from #Beirut explosion blows out windows in nearby high-rise. #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/RZYEZ2DXRT
โ Joe Truzman (@Jtruzmah) August 4, 2020
Aftermath blast in #Beirut, Lebanon pic.twitter.com/nOKu3PIDo8
โ George Tiod, HSC (@Mr_Afrikana) August 4, 2020
A Bride runs away as the explosion rips through
What should be a bride's happiest day was quickly spoiled as the explosion takes place. The bride who was seen in a stunning white dress was seen running for her life after being seen posing for cameras on her wedding day. The moments right before the blast and a little after the blast shows what occurred.
ุนุฑูุณ ูุณุท ุจูุฑูุช.. #ูุจูุงู pic.twitter.com/ZSPhYBLZra
โ ุฑุดูููููููููููููุง๐ฑ๐ง (@RaShalhoub) August 4, 2020
The quick thinking of a maid to protect a child
A video of a maid who risked her life to save and protect a child made headlines across social media, garnering a lot of attention. The maid is seen doing some cleaning when the explosion is heard. A few seconds later, the blast rips through with the maid swooping in and picking up the girl and fleeing.
Everyone is sharing videos of today's deadly #BeirutBlast.
โ Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) August 4, 2020
Here's something else.
This is the exact moment a maid risked her own life to save a little child, just as the explosion occurred.
Heroes can be anywhere.pic.twitter.com/6Eq4q5Wt4G
Social media users have taken to commenting on the videos being shared, offering up their prayers and feeling of solidarity. One such user wrote, "Yesterday's explosion was devastating...we have never witnessed anything close to such an explosion right inside a town! May God help heal Lebanon."
Yesterday's explosion was devastating...we have never witnessed anything close to such an explosion right inside a town! May God help heal Lebanon.
โ ROBERT OMAE (@ROBERTOMAE12) August 5, 2020
Another had also commented saying, "SIX YEARS? I get beauracracy slows things down but seriously? No one looked into the blast radius of what that much explosives could do? Clearly, they didnโt see what happened in Texas City when more than 2000tons exploded in 1947. Beirutis deserve better. #beirutdeservesbetter."
SIX YEARS? I get beauracracy slows things down but seriously? No one looked into the blast radius of what that much explosives could do? Clearly, they didnโt see what happened in Texas City when more than 2000tons exploded in 1947.
โ Brianna (@KylesBrianna) August 5, 2020
Beirutis deserve better.#beirutdeservesbetter
"Hopefully the world super power can spend a few percentage of their military budget for this humanitarian crisis. After all we are humans. Everyone deserves to live a happy life in this world. #Beirut #Lebanon," said yet another user.
Hopefully the world super power can spend a few percentage of their military budget for this humanitarian crisis. After all we are humans. Everyone deserves to live a happy life in this world. #Beirut #Lebanon
โ Preeth (@pgpreeth) August 5, 2020
A Twitter user who echoed the same sentiments chimed in, "The devastation is unreal. The world needs to help these innocent people who have been affected by this tragedy."
The devastation is unreal. The world needs to help these innocent people who have been affected by this tragedy.
โ Anthony ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ (@StanfordGrad) August 5, 2020
We had earlier shared that according to Lebanon State media, the Supreme Council of Defense had announced that there had been 2,750 ton ammonium nitrate, confiscated back in 2014 from a ship called Rhosus. The material which is used to make fertilizers and bombs had been stored for around six years at the port without any proper safety measures. Officials who had met at Lebanon's Supreme Defence Council revealed that the stored chemicals had been behind the devastating explosion.