Car bomb devastates Beirut neighborhood

A firefighter stands after extinguishing burning cars at the site of an explosion in Beirut's southern suburb of Bir al-Abed on July 9, 2013.

A car bomb rocked a stronghold of the Shiite militant Hezbollah group south of the Lebanese capital Tuesday, wounding at least 53 people and setting several cars ablaze in the most serious knock-on effect from Syria's civil war on its smaller neighbor since the Syrian crisis began, officials said.

Read more: Explosion rocks Hezbollah stronghold in suburban Beirut

A man walks past as a firefighter extinguishes the blaze at the site of the car bomb explosion in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Firefighters and residents gather at the site of the car bomb explosion in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Firefighters extinguish flames at the site of the car bomb explosion in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

A firefighter is helped as he extinguishes flames at the site of the explosion in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Residents gather at the site of the explosion in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Security forces stand at the scene of the bombing Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Firefighters and residents gather at the site of the explosion Beirut, July 9, 2013.

A woman walks past a car destroyed in the bombing in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Security forces and civilians stand at the scene of the bombing in Beirut, July 9, 2013.

Security forces stand at the scene of the bombing in Beirut, July 9, 2013.