<Anchor>

Lebanon is believed to have caused a massive explosion in the capital of Beirut, killing dozens and killing thousands. There seems to have been an explosion in the port's explosives warehouse, but the damage to our population has not been confirmed.

I am a reporter.

<Reporter>

Smoke explodes all over the place with the explosion.

The rise of a black pillar of fire reminds me of a nuclear explosion.

About 6:30 in the evening yesterday (4 days) local time, two large explosions took place in the explosives depot in the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.

Building windows and balconies broke in an explosion that shook the ground, and the streets are full of injured citizens and building debris.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health says at least 50 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured.

Explosives were expected to increase further, as the explosion was so loud that even the island of Cyprus, 180km northwest of Beirut, was heard.

[Paris Sharawi/Beirut Citizen: When I heard the explosion and went to see what happened, there was an unexpected second explosion. The window exploded in front of me.] At the

scene of the explosion, 10 firefighters were also missing.

The Lebanese Red Cross has called for an urgent blood donation, and the Lebanese Prime Minister has declared the day a "mourning day."

The exact cause of the accident has not been identified, but Lebanese officials said in an interview that the old explosives that had been seized several years ago appear to have burst.

In Lebanon, as of January, there are 188 Koreans in total, but there have been no reports of damage to the people.