A journalist from Beirut captured the moments immediately after the blast sent shockwaves through the city and surrounding areas.

Footage from August 4 at 6:12 pm local time shows the visible chaos and confusion moments after the blast, which originated in the port around 1km away on Gouraud high street.

Elie W. Fawaz told Newsflare: "[I] was in a cafe at the time of the explosion.

"I let pass a few minutes to make sure it was one explosion then I headed towards the site of the explosion.

"The scene was apocalyptic wounded, dead bodies and destruction all the way to the site of the explosion which is almost a kilometre from where I was."

Was in a caffe at the time of the explosion. I let pass few minutes to make sure it was one explosion then I head towards the site of the explosion. The scene was apocalyptic wounded dead bodies and destruction all the way to the site of the explosion which is almost a kilometre from where I was.