A huge car-bomb explosion has rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut, killing and injuring dozens of people, officials say.

The blast happened in Sassine Square - a busy part of the city's mainly Christian Ashrafiya district.

Several cars were destroyed and surrounding buildings were badly damaged.

A number of wounded people were treated at the scene.

Other victims were taken to nearby hospitals.

Meanwhile, firefighters and emergency crews tackled the huge blaze and evacuated residents from the area.

There were scenes of panic and chaos, as terrified residents desperately tried to get news about their loved ones.

The normally bustling area, famous for its shops and cafes, looked like a war zone after the blast.

Eyewitnesses said the blast was heard several kilometres away, and officials warn the death toll could rise.

The blast, near the headquarters of a Christian party, the Phalange, comes amid rising tensions as a result of of the continuing conflict in neighbouring Syria.

Lebanese soldiers later sealed off the area. No group has so far said it carried out the attack, and the intended target remains unclear.