Thick black columns of smoke rose into the sky, as the army said it had engulfed a warehouse storing engine oil and vehicle tyres.

Lebanon’s army said its helicopters would be used to help extinguish a fire at Beirut port on Thursday.

Live television footage showed one helicopter flying to the area, with a water container slung underneath.

The blaze erupted a little more than a month after a huge explosion devastated the port and surrounding area.