Smoke rises from an explosion site at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 4, 2020. (Photo: VCG)

No Chinese citizens were killed or seriously injured in the explosion in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Lebanon told media.

Some people may have been slightly hurt by the glass shards caused by the explosion, but most Chinese citizens are safe, The Beijing News reported Wednesday, citing an employee from the Chinese embassy in Lebanon.

The embassy issued an urgent safety warning on Wednesday to Chinese citizens in Lebanon.

According to the warning, the explosion happened on Tuesday, leading to massive casualties and damaging many buildings.

An investigation into the explosion is underway, the embassy said.

The explosion has killed nearly 80 and injured more than 4,000 as of Wednesday morning Beijing Time, media reported.

It was likely caused by 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a local warehouse since 2014, according to media reports.

People walk past damaged vehicles after the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 4, 2020. The two huge explosions that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut on Tuesday left dozens dead and injured, al-Jadeed TV channel reported. (Photo: Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Damaged buildings are seen after the explosion at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 4, 2020. The two huge explosions that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut on Tuesday left dozens dead and injured, al-Jadeed TV channel reported. (Photo: Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Smoke rises from an explosion site at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 4, 2020. The two huge explosions that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut on Tuesday left dozens dead and injured, al-Jadeed TV channel reported. (Photo: Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)