A man is evacuated at the site of an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
CAIRO - 5 August 2020: A circulated video on social media showed earlier a huge blast rocking Beirut’s port, andtwo following explosions took place according to Sky News Arabia Channel. Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud described the blast as another Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The death toll of the blast has jumped to 78 killed and about 4,000 injured, Reuters reported Lebanese Minister of Health Hamad Hassan.
Many Arab and Gulf countries expressed their solidarity with Lebanon and their support for the Lebanese people as a result of the explosion of Beirut Port.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi Wednesday extendedhis condolences to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aounon the tragic loss of life in theexplosion that hit Beirut Port.Ina phone call, Sisi assured Aoun that Egypt will stand by Lebanon and is willing to offer any help for Beirut.
Presidential spokesman BassamRadi said that Sisi condoled the Lebanese people and government and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
"My sincere condolences and sympathy go to our brothers in Lebanon over the tragic explosion that took place today in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. We pray to God to speedily curethe wounded and grantthe families of the victims patience and solace,” Sisitweetedon Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Nayef Al-Hajraf, extendedhis condolences to the Lebanese people on the death of the victims of the explosion, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Also, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed its solidarity with Lebanon and its people in the ordeal they are going through as a result of the explosion, as the organization's General Secretariat confirmed that it is following with great concern the repercussions of the explosion that occurred in the port, and led to deaths and injuries, according to a press release.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain stated that they are following with great concern the repercussions of the explosion.The ministries affirmed their full support for and solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people.
For his part, Deputy Emir of Kuwait, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, and the Algerian president sent messagesto condole Lebanese President Michel Aoun. Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Sabahalso sent a similar cable.
Moreover, Minister of the EmiriDiwan Affairs in Kuwait, Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah, stated that under the directions of Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, he ordered urgent medical assistance to Lebanon to face the impact of the huge explosion that hit Beirut Port on Tuesday afternoon.
Hassan Diab, the Lebanese prime minister, stressedin a speech on Tuesdaythatthose responsible for the disaster will be held accountable, andcalledon the brotherly and friendly countries to help Lebanon.
In the United Arab Emirates, BurjKhalifa was covered with the flag of Lebanon, to show support to the brotherly countryfollowingthe huge explosion.
The Yemeni government announced its solidarity with the Lebanese people following the huge explosion. Jordan also expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Iraqi President, BarhamSalih, calledLebanese President, Michel Aoun, and affirmed the the Iraqi government and people stand in solidarity with Lebanon. President Aoun praised the position of President Salih, and the feelings of brotherhood between the two peoples.
For his part, Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud revealed, Wednesday, that the preliminary damages as a result of Beirut’s port blast ranges between $3 to $5 billion.
He added that along with the huge number of victims and injures; hundreds of Beirut residents left without houses.
The capital’s hospitals announced the extreme state of emergency to receive all the wounded by the blast, estimated at 3700 wounded. Lebanon’s state news agency NNA and two security sources said the blast had occurred in the port area where there are warehouses housing explosives.
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