Jim Wilson has received shocking footage of the deadly Beirut explosion and its aftermath.

In the vision, locals have captured the explosion at the chemical storage facility as it erupted in a mushroom cloud of smoke.

Buildings have been decimated, more than 4000 people have been injured and 78 killed, and the death toll is expected to rise to 100.

At least one Australian is confirmed among the dead.

Ruby Shehadie, an Australian citizen living in Lebanon, witnessed the blast from near the portside area.

She told Jim Wilson a last minute change in plans saw her narrowly escape being in the area at the time.

“I cannot begin to tell you how awful it was.

“It took up the whole sky, and I honestly thought I was going to die.”

Homes nearby were left doorless and windowless, she said.

“It’s just really overwhelming. We’ve been going through enough, with the economic crisis.

“I just don’t know what to say.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Anwar Harb, editor-in-chief of Australian Lebanese/Arab newspaper An-Nahar, told Jim the disaster has only added to the country’s suffering.

“It’s mini-Hiroshima, what’s happened in Lebanon.

“I would not hesitate to tell you, not as a journalist, but as a human being, I cried.

“I was worried about my family back home; I was worried about the Lebanese people at large.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Click PLAY below to see the vision