Beirut explosion: Crater left by blast measures around 200 metres across

Devastation surrounds large hole filled with water in city

An explosion in Beirut has left behind a huge crater measuring around 200 metres across.

More than 135 people have died and several thousand injured after a blast hit Lebanon‘s capital city on Tuesday.

The explosion took place at the city’s port, where warehouses were housing high explosive material.

Images of the aftermath showed a huge crater at the site of the blast, measuring some 200 meters across and filled with water.

Rubble and damaged buildings surround the crater, with much of the city destroyed in the blast.

Residents of Beirut confronted a scene of utter devastation the day after the deadly blast.

Much of downtown was littered with damaged vehicles and debris that had rained down from the shattered facades of buildings.

A satellite image shows the port of Beirut after the explosion (Maxar Technologies/via Reuters)

Rescue workers searched for survivors buried in rubble across the city.

Beirut's governor has said up to 300,000 people have been left homeless after buildings were devastated on Tuesday.

The explosion hit with the force of an earthquake, and was the most powerful blast to ever rock Lebanon's capital.

Additional reporting by agencies