Shell shocked Beirut wakes up to widespread damage

Beirut woke up shell shocked on Wednesday, hours after a catastrophic explosion devastated city's port area, leaving 70 people de and thousands injured.

Rescue operations continued as dawn broke in Lebanese capital, with bodies of many victims feared still buried in rubble.

It was t clear what caused blast, which struck with force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake and was felt as far away as Cyprus, more than 200 kilometers (180 miles) across Mediterranean.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate that h been stored for years in a Beirut portside warehouse h blown up.