Following the devastating explosion in Beirut, a glimmer of hope arrives as rescue teams continue to save people trapped in debris. A video uploaded to Twitter today (5 August) shows crowds cheering as a survivor is pulled from the rubble by a group of emergency workers.
Footage shows surrounding crowds erupting into applause as the crew pull the young man out of the wreckage. With his clothes and body covered in dust and dirt, he is carried on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
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The post has received nearly 60,000 views and over 2,600 likes at the time of writing, alongside a number of comments offering support and praise to the rescue staff who are working around the clock to bring safety to any survivors.
"Strong man," wrote one commenter, while another added: "At least one mom had her son back".
The story arrives in the aftermath of a huge explosion at the seaport of Lebanon's capital on Tuesday (4 August).
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According to the Red Cross, over half the city has been damaged as a result, killing at least 100 people and wounding a further 4,000.
Footage was shared on social media showing the moment the disaster unfolded, including a clip posted to Twitter of a large cloud of smoke suddenly erupting into the air as a deafening noise ripples through the city.
The clip was posted with the caption: "A video I received on WhatsApp of the scale of explosion in #Beirut, confirming it was at the port.
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"FYI - this comes at one of the worst times in Lebanon's history, a deep economic crisis with more and more of the population unable to access food, health care. The general mood was that it can't get worse.
"Many people barely surviving and now more have lost their livelihoods, shops and cars destroyed."
The blast - which was so powerful it could be felt more than 150 miles away in Cyprus - has devastated entire areas of the city, destroying local establishments and critical silos that stored around 85 percent of the country's grain.
Sky News reporter Zein Ja'far, who was in downtown Beirut when the explosion happened, said: "It tore apart the facade of the building we're in, and once the dust settled we managed to get ourselves and others in this block outside.
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"Windows, doors and glass were shattered across downtown Beirut and there were a lot of very dazed, bloody people walking around, trying to gather their bearings."
The BBC reports that hospitals are now struggling to cope and are becoming overwhelmed with casualties, particularly as electricity is out in a majority of the city.
Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab has since appealed to all countries and friends of Lebanon to provide help to the nation, saying: "We are witnessing a real catastrophe."
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Declaring a national day of mourning for the victims of the explosion, he also promised accountability for the incident.
Governments worldwide have offered support, including the UK, France, Australia, Israel and the US.
The cause of the disaster remains unclear, although Lebanese leaders including Diab have linked it to the 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate - an explosive chemical - that was stored at port warehouses.
You can donate to the Lebanese Red Cross here.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@layalhaddadTopics: World News