Seismic data suggests string of blasts preceded Beirut explosion, says Israeli analyst

Seismological data suggests that six blasts preceded the Beirut port explosion, the last of them combustion of fireworks that apparently set off a warehouse full of ammonium nitrate, an Israeli analyst said on Thursday. The six blasts were at 11-second intervals during the Aug. 4 incident, with the main explosion following the last by around 43 seconds, Boaz Hayoun of Israel`s Tamar Group told Reuters.