The two explosions that shook Beirut on Tuesday left over 96 people dead and 2,700 injured, according to "preliminary estimates" announced by Health Minister Hamad Hassan.
"It is a disaster in every sense of the word," he said in an interview with several television channels while visiting a hospital in the Lebanese capital.
Videos show smoke billowing from a fire, then a mushroom cloud following the blast at the city's port.
Officials are blaming highly explosive materials stored in a warehouse for six years.
President Michel Aoun tweeted it was "unacceptable" that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored unsafely.
An investigation is under way to find the exact trigger for the explosion. Lebanon's Supreme Defence Council said those responsible would face the "maximum punishment" possible.
Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed and many buildings have been destroyed.
President Aoun declared a three-day mourning period, and said the government would release 100 billion lira (£50.5m; $66m) of emergency funds.
[AFP]
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