Massive blast rips through Beirut

A massive blast shook Beirut

Courtesy: Karim Sokhn / Instagram/ Ksokhn + Thebikekitchenbeirut

Dozens were killed

and thousands wounded

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LEBANESE DIRECTOR, PHILIPPE ARACTINGI, SAYING:

"It is a catastrophe, I've never seen anything like this before."

The blast came from port warehouses

storing highly explosive material

like ammonium nitrate

Courtesy: Twitter/ralphunicef

It was heard 100 miles away

in Cyprus

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BEIRUT MAYOR, JAMAL ITANI, SAYING:

"It is like a big earthquake that hit Lebanon and Beirut, and this will cost billions of dollars to restore, the economy will deteriorate even more."

Hospitals were overwhelmed

with patients and people searching for loved ones

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WITNESS AND PROCUREMENT ENGINEER, KARL DAGHER, SAYING:"

I went to another hospital and was told they were at full capacity. I saw a man whose leg had been cut off and I saw a boy who was lost and looking for his parents, so I thought to myself, my injury is minor, and the hospital has more to deal with, so I came home and took care of it using a first aid kit."

Officials are investigating the cause

and have promised justice

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER, HASSAN DIAB, SAYING:

"What happened today won't pass without accountability, those responsible will pay the price for what happened, this is a promise to the martyrs and to the wounded."