Explosion sent journalist flying in live broadcast [Video]

• A live BBC broadcast captured a terrifying moment as a massive explosion in Beirut sent a journalist flying.
• The blast is believed to have originated from a building that housed 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
• The explosion was estimated to be a fifth of the size of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.

A live BBC broadcast captured a terrifying moment as a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, sent a journalist flying.

The explosion was reportedly triggered by a welder who ignited 2,700 tons of explosive chemicals in the port area. The blast was estimated to be a fifth of the size of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb. At least 100 people were killed.

The devastating blast rocked the capital just as BBC News Arabic journalist Maryam Toumi was in the middle of a video interview.

TENSE MOMENTS

The live broadcast captured an ominous rumbling sound. The explosion hits moments later. As the camera gets knocked down to the floor, broken glass scatters and Toumi can be heard screaming. An alarm can be heard in the background.

Toumi’s interviewees watch in horror as they wait anxiously to hear from her again.

Following a few tense moments that seemed like forever, Toumi picks herself up off the floor and readjusts the camera. She seemed relatively unharmed.

THE AFTERMATH

The explosion was reportedly heard about 110 miles away, in Cyprus.

Pictures of the aftermath showed flattened buildings, shattered windows, crushed vehicles, burning fires, a sea of rubble, and thousands of injured residents. Many people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.

The explosion also released toxic gases and orange clouds, prompting warnings for residents to stay inside.

The blast is believed to have originated from a building that housed 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate — without safety measures in place.

While ammonium nitrate is mainly used as a fertilizer, it has also been used in homemade bombs linked to terror attacks.

A state of emergency has since been declared in Beirut for two weeks. Lebanese President Michel Aoun vowed the “harshest punishments” for everyone responsible.

Lebanese PM Hassan Diab echoed that “those responsible will pay the price” and called the disaster a “national catastrophe.”

MUSHROOM CLOUD

Videos capturing the explosion showed a huge mushroom cloud over the city, followed by a shockwave.

Beirut governor Marwan Abboud was overwhelmed with emotion as he likened the blast to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the first-ever nuclear bombs were dropped.

“I’ve never seen such a big destruction. This is a national calamity, this is a disaster for Lebanon,” he said. “We need to remain strong, we need to hold on and be brave … but this is too much…”

He reported that a second massive explosion has led to the disappearance of a team of 10 hero firefighters who responded to the initial blast.

Source: The U.S. Sun