Two loud explosions rocked a Brussels airport just before 8 a.m. local time Tuesday, while separate explosions were reported at nearby metro stations.
Citing local media, the Associated Press reports that at least 13 people were killed in the multiple explosions. Authorities have asked everyone in Brussels to remain where they are following the incidents.
The blasts at Zavantem airport appear to have occurred near the building's check-in area, according to reports.
Eyewitness Jef Versele told NBC News, that after the second explosion hit at the airport, “everything came down.”
"There was dust everywhere, glass everywhere there was chaos,” he explained. “There were people on the floor everywhere. The roofing came down. It was quite a mess."
Photos from the scene show shattered glass, bloody victims and smoke rising from the building, which is under evacuation. Departing flights were canceled while arriving flights were diverted.
Officials have warned people to stay away from the area.
BREAKING: Explosion at the Explosion at Zaventem airport in #Brussels, airport Being evacuated now. Reason unknown pic.twitter.com/ZPII6stGHJ
— News_Executive (@News_Executive) March 22, 2016
Shattered windows showing force of explosions at Brussels airport @9NewsBrisbanepic.twitter.com/XpAgEvSYqC
— Sophie Walsh (@sophie_walsh9) March 22, 2016
IMAGE: Damage inside Brussels airport pic.twitter.com/Y5hNpM8RhG
— The Int'l Spectator (@intlspectator) March 22, 2016
Video footage shows terrified passengers running from the scene.
#BREAKING: Two loud explosions at #Zaventem airport in #Brusselspic.twitter.com/JFw9RGLjnh
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) March 22, 2016
A short time later, local media outlets reported that others were injured in separate explosions at the Schuman and Maalbeek metro stations in central Brussels.
It wasn't immediately clear if the attacks were terrorism-related. However, they come just four days after the capture in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the deadly Paris terrorist attacks in November.
