Arraf: 'Scene from hell' at Baghdad hotel
 |  CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf |
|
Story Tools
|
|  VIDEO |
 CNN's Jane Arraf talks with U.S. Army spokesman Col. Ralph Baker at the site of the bombing.
 An apparent car bombing rocks a Baghdad hotel. CNN's Jane Arraf reports.
 Chaos, confusion at Baghdad bombing scene
|
|
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A massive explosion shook a Baghdad hotel on Wednesday night, sparking several fires and sending plumes of smoke into the sky.
CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf describes the chaotic scene in the Iraqi capital to Wolf Blitzer.
ARRAF: Wolf, it is a scene from hell here, surrounded by burning vehicles, still burning around us. There are people out in what looks to be a half-constructed building just where apparently a car bomb exploded.
The engine has been thrown across the street, and streets from here there was shattered glass and people running from the scene, arguing with each other about whether it was a car bomb or whether it was a rocket. It appears clearly to have been a car bomb. There's debris shattered all over.
It's not clear how many casualties yet. There are ambulances starting to arrive, a fire truck trying to arrive on the scene, and everywhere smoke and fire.
BLITZER: The Associated Press is reporting now that eyewitnesses are seeing bodies being taken from this building. Have you seen that yourself?
ARRAF: What we're seeing is maybe a rescue effort that is being attempted. There are still people going through this burning building, Wolf. And I'll describe the scene for you a little bit.
On the ground, there are flames everywhere from this apparent car bomb explosion. And in the building, there are flames and smoke billowing out the windows. There are people who appear to be searching still for victims or survivors.
... It's a very crowded scene. There's debris everywhere.
[It's] extremely difficult to tell who may be in this debris.
It's really chaotic here. There are people screaming and shouting ... and we're now starting to hear the sound of what must be gunfire. The fire trucks have just arrived with new Iraqi firemen turning their fire hoses on these flames that are billowing out of one of the buildings. But clearly, a car bomb, a very large one.
BLITZER: Do you know the exact name of this hotel that was bombed?
ARRAF: People in the neighborhood say it was the [Mount Lebanon] Hotel. But also -- Wolf, we have to go.
BLITZER: All right, Jane, go ahead and move to a more secure location.
