Smoke from Beirut port fire seen from nearby areas

A huge fire broke out Thursday at the Port of Beirut, the site of last month's catastrophic explosion which killed nearly 200 people and devastated parts of the capital.

The new fire nearly 40 days after the blast triggered widespread panic among traumatized residents of the area.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the blaze at the facility, which was decimated by the August 4 explosion when nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate detonated.

The Lebanese army said the fire started at a warehouse where oil and tyres are placed in the duty free zone, adding that efforts to battle the fire were ongoing.

A column of thick black smoke billowed from the port at midday Thursday, with orange flames leaping from the ground.

Smoke covered the capital and firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene.

Army helicopters were taking part in efforts to extinguish the fire.