More than a hundred dead in Beirut explosion (Updated)

Updated

The number of people dead in the massive explosions in the port of Beirut on Tuesday (4 August) is now over one hundred, and is expected to rise, as a number of people are reported missing. More than four thousand people were injured.

Among the effected groups is the large Armenian community of Lebanon. According to the Armenian foreign ministry six Armenians have been reported killed in the incident. Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Anna Naghdalian wrote on her facebook page

"A working group has been set up at the MFA to coordinate—with the crisis structure of Lebanon—the provision of targeted assistance to Lebanon. The RA embassy in Lebanon is in constant contact with the relevant local authorities to jointly assess the needs of the Lebanese side and the scope of assistance.

In parallel, contact is maintained with Armenian community structures [in Beirut] to assess [their] needs.

The embassy in Lebanon is working in an emergency mode; there is a hotline," 

___________________________

The Lebanese capital Beirut was the scene of devastation today, after a large explosion in the port area of the city.

Preliminary figures put the number of dead at fifty, with more than two thousand injured.

Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed and many buildings have been destroyed.

Lebanon's internal security chief said the blast happened in an area housing highly explosive materials.

Among those affected are the Armenian community of the city. A spokesperson for the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that at least one person of Armenian descent was killed and several others were injured. It is also understood that the Armenian embassy in the Lebanese capital has been damaged.

source: commonspace.eu with agencies

photo: Smoke and scenes of devastation in the port area of Beirut after a huge explosion on 4 August 2020 (picture courtesy of TASS news agency, Moscow.

 

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