Two Egyptians die in Beirut's massive explosion: Egyptian Embassy in Lebanon

CAIRO - 5 August 2020: "The Egyptian Embassy in Lebanon announced that two Egyptians were killed in the massive explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday," said Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Yasser Mahmoud Hashem in a press release Wednesday.

 

The Egyptian Embassy offered condolences to the family of Ismail el SayyedShehata, adding that measures are being taken to transport his body to his homeland in Gharbiya governorate.

 

On Tuesday, the Egyptian Embassy announced that Ibrahim Abdel Mohsen el Sayyed Abu Qasaba was also killed in the explosion.

 

The Egyptian Embassy asserted that it will continue following up with Egyptians in Lebanon to check on them and help them, affirmingthatthey arecontacting nationals in Lebanon to make sure they are safe following the huge explosion.

 

The embassy also contacted the Lebanese authorities in a bid to offer assistance, if needed by Egyptians in Lebanon, as the number of victims is expected to further increase.

 

"A third Egyptian, Roshdi Ahmed el-Gam’al, is reportedly missing,"Hashem said, adding that some nationals informed the embassy he was present in the vicinity of the blast.

 

"The embassy is coordinating efforts with the Lebanese authorities to search for the missing Egyptian and finalize procedures to ferry bodies of the two dead Egyptians back home as soon as possible," he noted.

 

A video that circulated on social media showed earlier a huge blast rocking Beirut’s port, as two 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 that rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut has jumped to 78 killed and about 4,000 injured, Reuters reported Lebanese Minister of Health Hamad Hassan.

 

At an emergency meeting held by the Lebanese Council of Defense, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate have been at the port for six years in a warehouse without taking preventive measures, without revealing if the explosive material is the real reason behind the explosion or not.

 

The council meeting announced three-day mourning for the loss of the victims, while the Lebanese armed forces assumed the authority to secure all the vital institutions of the state. In addition to this, a fact-finding committee will be formed to investigate the incident.