Indian Embassy in Lebanon is in touch with the Indian community after a massive explosion rocked capital Beirut on Tuesday, leaving over 25 dead and 2,500 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said.
IMAGE: Smoke rises from the site of an explosion in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
The massive explosion flattened much of the port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky.
Indian envoy to Lebanon Suhel Ajaz Khan told ANI: “All our embassy staff are safe. We are in touch with Indian community members, so far there is no report of casualty. We are keeping a close watch and are in touch with community organisations.
“There is lot of damage to buildings in central Beirut.”
IMAGE: People run for cover following the explosion. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
The Embassy has also shared its helpline numbers with the Indian community.
The National News Agency of Lebanon reported that a warehouse at the Beirut Port caught fire and lead to major explosions, which reverberated in the capital and the suburbs and left behind great damages to the surrounding buildings and a considerable number of wounded.
Dramatic images and videos on social media showed huge plumes of smoke billowing out of the site of the massive blast near Beirut’s port.
IMAGE: Firefighters spray water at a fire after the explosion. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
Local media showed people reporting shattering of glass windows of buildings and cars shaking.
Al Jazeera reported that the force of the blast was massive and it caused panic in the streets and pieces of glass were seen everywhere.
The daily quoted Hamad Hassan, Lebanon’s health minister saying hundreds were wounded in the explosion.
Several people on board an Italian ship docked near the explosion site, the Orient Queen, were wounded and taken to hospital.
IMAGE: Men walk at the site of explosion. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
Though the cause of the blast is unknown, the initial reports have stated that the explosion occurred in Beirut’s port area containing warehouses.
The blast comes ahead of a verdict on Friday by United Nations-backed panel on the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in car bombing.
The sudden devastation overwhelmed a country already struggling with both the coronavirus pandemic and an economic crisis: Beirut hospitals quickly filled beyond capacity, pleading for blood supplies and generators to keep their lights on.
— With inputs from ANI
