Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousands

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's interior minister says it appears a massive explosion in Beirut was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate. Mohammed Fahmi told a local TV station that the material had been stored in a warehouse at a dock in the capital's port since it was confiscated from a cargo ship in 2014. Videos showed what appeared to be a fire erupting nearby just before Tuesday's explosion, and local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved. The fire appeared to spread to a nearby building, triggering the more massive explosion, sending up a mushroom cloud and generating a shock wave. The blast killed more than 70 people and injured more than 3,000.