Many in Lebanon’s capital saw their apartments destroyed and family members injured as the city was brought to its knees, with daylight revealing scenes of destruction not witnessed in the country since its devastating civil war, which ended in 1990.

Rescue workers were digging in the rubble, as plumes of smoke still rose above the city.

“This is a catastrophe for Beirut and Lebanon,” Beirut Mayor Jamal Itani told Reuters while inspecting damage.

Lebanese army command asked city residents to evacuate areas surrounding the site of the explosion, where rescue operations were continuing.

Hasan, the health minister, said they are looking into putting field hospitals in place to treat the wounded quickly.