A photograph taken seconds after the explosion at Brussels’ Maelbreek metro station captures a moment of solace between a couple surrounded by devastation.
The couple were photographed embracing before turning to aid a man lying on the ground behind them, one of more than 100 injured in today’s attacks. At least 34 people are confirmed dead.
Read our full coverage of the attacks here.
It is impossible to measure the extent of damage wrought by the Brussels terrorist attacks at this early stage, the full emotional toll on those who witnessed the attacks and victims’ families will never be known.
“Two bombs went off, there’s nothing left,” a man, who was 30 metres from the explosion at the Brussels airport with his family, told the BBC.
“Everything is devastated, there’s nothing left.”
Watch here:
As yet, no Australians are known to be amongst the dead or injured, but DFAT has advised against travelling to Belgium and urged those trapped there to listen to and follow the instructions of local authorities.
It will be sometime before the victims can be formally identified, however.
Brussels Airport has offered condolences to victims’ families on the their Facebook page asking those searching for information about loved ones contact them directly.