Deadly Lebanon blast in Beirut stronghold of Hezbollah Published duration 15 August 2013

media caption Jim Muir in Beirut: "This is the biggest and by far the most deadly attack so far"

At least 16 people have been killed by a large blast in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, with some 200 more reported wounded.

The area contains strongholds of the Shia militant movement Hezbollah.

The explosion happened in a densely populated part of the capital. Heavy damage was reported to nearby buildings and cars.

The blast is being linked to the conflict in Syria, which has worsened sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

Plumes of smoke rose over the area where the blast occurred, between the Bir Abed and Rweiss districts of the city.

Lebanese officials said that the blast was the result of a car bomb.

The site of the blast is close to the Sayyed al-Shuhada complex, where Hezbollah often holds mass rallies, although there does not seem to have been an obvious target.

The BBC's Jim Muir, at the scene of the blast, says the bomb appeared to have gone off between two residential buildings and he saw chaotic scenes, with fire engines and ambulances piling into a narrow road.

Smoke was still rising from nearby buildings more than two hours after the blast, our correspondent reports.

image copyright AP image caption This is a densely populated area of Beirut

image copyright Reuters image caption The explosion happened in a busy commercial street in Beirut's southern suburbs

image copyright AFP image caption Emergency services rushed to the scene

image copyright Reuters image caption Smoke from the blast could be seen across the capital

image copyright AP image caption Rescue workers helped those trapped in nearby buildings to escape

One injured man at the scene told Reuters news agency: "I don't know what happened. It's as if we were struck by an earthquake."

Lebanon's outgoing prime minister has declared Friday a day of mourning for the victims.

Few would doubt the blast was a consequence of Hezbollah's involvement in the conflict in Syria, our correspondent says.

Fighters from the militant group were instrumental in a strategic victory by Syrian government forces in Qusair, close to the border with Lebanon, in early June.

Hezbollah politicians denounced the latest bomb as a "terrorist attack" and called for restraint from their followers.

A group called the Battalions of Ayesha said it carried out the attack. In a video message posted online, they also implied they had been behind another bomb blast in a nearby area last month which injured dozens.

The group threatened to carry out more attacks, referring to Hezbollah strongholds as "colonies of Iran".