The wife of the Dutch Ambassador to Lebanon is among the victims of the blast in Beirut. Some foreigners had a brush with fate, but lived to tell the tale. WION gets you a ground report from Beirut.

Gravitas: WION reports from Beirut: Foreigners Recount The Blast

The deadly Beirut explosion, that took nearly 165 lives, has caused severe damage in the city. To map the extent of this damage, NASA used satellite-derived data.

NASA's&nbsp;Advnaced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) analysed the&nbsp;satellite-derived synthetic aperture radar data to map the likely extent of damage with the help of&nbsp;the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanese-leaders-were-informed-of-risk-posed-by-explosives-at-port-in-july-reports-319592">Also read|&nbsp;Lebanese leaders were informed of risk posed by explosives at port in July: Reports</a>

"Synthetic aperture radar data from space shows ground surface changes from before and after a major event like an earthquake. In this case, it is being used to show the devastating result of an explosion," NASA report reads.

In the map, the dark red pixels represent the areas that have been severely damaged by the explosion, areas marked in orange have been moderately hit and the yellow-marked portions reveal the areas which have sustained somewhat less damage.&nbsp;Each colored pixel represents an area of 30 meters (33 yards).

NASA released the map on its official website. With the help of the map, the authorities can detect the areas where people might be severely affected and would require emergency assistance.

The explosion&nbsp;in Beirut happened on August 4 and affected more than 6,000 people with more than 20 people still missing.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%2FaXU9LzExNDQwNDY1L1dpb25ld3NfVmlkZW8vV2lvbmV3c19QcmVyb2xsJmRlc2NyaXB0aW9uX3VybD1bcGxhY2Vob2xkZXJdJmVudj12cCZpbXBsPXMmY29ycmVsYXRvcj0mdGZjZD0wJm5wYT0wJmdkZnBfcmVxPTEmb3V0cHV0PXZhc3Qmc3o9NjQweDQ4MCZ1bnZpZXdlZF9wb3NpdGlvbl9zdGFydD0xIn19LCJoZWFsdGhBbmFseXRpY3MiOnt9fSwiaHRtbDUiOnRydWV9" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

The deadly Beirut explosion, that took nearly 165 lives, has caused severe damage in the city. To map the extent of this damage, NASA used satellite-derived data.

The deadly Beirut explosion, that took nearly 165 lives, has caused severe damage in the city. To map the extent of this damage, NASA used satellite-derived data. NASA's Advnaced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) analysed the satellite-derived synthetic aperture radar data to map the likely extent of damage with the help of the Earth Observatory of Singapore. Also read| Lebanese leaders were informed of risk posed by explosives at port in July: Reports "Synthetic aperture radar data from space shows ground surface changes from before and after a major event like an earthquake. In this case, it is being used to show the devastating result of an explosion," NASA report reads. In the map, the dark red pixels represent the areas that have been severely damaged by the explosion, areas marked in orange have been moderately hit and the yellow-marked portions reveal the areas which have sustained somewhat less damage. Each colored pixel represents an area of 30 meters (33 yards). NASA released the map on its official website. With the help of the map, the authorities can detect the areas where people might be severely affected and would require emergency assistance. The explosion in Beirut happened on August 4 and affected more than 6,000 people with more than 20 people still missing. ×

NASA maps Beirut blast damage through satellite images

The death toll from Beirut's massive August 4 explosion has climbed to 171, a health ministry spokesman said.

The new figure, up from 160, came exactly one week since the mega-blast ravaged swathes of the Lebanese capital, wounding more than 6,000 and temporarily displacing 300,000 people from their homes.&nbsp;

It was caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been sitting at Beirut port for more than six years.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/beirut-blast-places-where-ammonium-nitrate-is-being-stored-around-the-world-319744" hreflang="en">Beirut blast: Places where ammonium nitrate is being stored around the world</a>

The explosion has fuelled popular outrage against the country's top political leaders and security agencies, and led to the resignation of the government on Monday.

Lebanon's president Michel Aoun, who accepted the&nbsp;resignation of&nbsp;Prime Minister Hassan Diab,&nbsp;&nbsp;had previously said explosive material was stored unsafely for years at the port. He later said the investigation would consider whether the cause was external interference as well as negligence or an accident.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sursock-palace-19th-century-landmark-destroyed-in-beirut-blasts-319389">Sursock Palace, 19th century landmark, destroyed in Beirut blasts</a>

In the wake of the disaster, documents have come to light that show that top Lebanese officials knew about the existence of the stockpile in the heart of Beirut near residential areas, and did nothing about it.

It still wasn't clear what caused the fire in a port warehouse that triggered the explosion of the chemicals, which created a shockwave so powerful it was felt as far away as the island of Cyprus more than 200 kilometers across the Mediterranean.

The explosion, which obliterated the capital's port, damaged thousands of apartments and offices in the capital and came on top of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis the country the country has been mired in since late last year, compounding the nation's collective distress.

An international donor conference on Sunday (August 9) raised pledges worth nearly 253 million euros ($298 million) for immediate humanitarian relief, but foreign countries are demanding transparency over how the aid is used

The death toll from Beirut's massive August 4 explosion has climbed to 171, a health ministry spokesman said. The new figure, up from 160, came exactly one week since the mega-blast ravaged swathes of the Lebanese capital, wounding more than 6,000 and temporarily displacing 300,000 people from their homes.

The death toll from Beirut's massive August 4 explosion has climbed to 171, a health ministry spokesman said. The new figure, up from 160, came exactly one week since the mega-blast ravaged swathes of the Lebanese capital, wounding more than 6,000 and temporarily displacing 300,000 people from their homes. It was caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been sitting at Beirut port for more than six years. Also see: Beirut blast: Places where ammonium nitrate is being stored around the world The explosion has fuelled popular outrage against the country's top political leaders and security agencies, and led to the resignation of the government on Monday. Lebanon's president Michel Aoun, who accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, had previously said explosive material was stored unsafely for years at the port. He later said the investigation would consider whether the cause was external interference as well as negligence or an accident. Also see: Sursock Palace, 19th century landmark, destroyed in Beirut blasts In the wake of the disaster, documents have come to light that show that top Lebanese officials knew about the existence of the stockpile in the heart of Beirut near residential areas, and did nothing about it. It still wasn't clear what caused the fire in a port warehouse that triggered the explosion of the chemicals, which created a shockwave so powerful it was felt as far away as the island of Cyprus more than 200 kilometers across the Mediterranean. The explosion, which obliterated the capital's port, damaged thousands of apartments and offices in the capital and came on top of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis the country the country has been mired in since late last year, compounding the nation's collective distress. An international donor conference on Sunday (August 9) raised pledges worth nearly 253 million euros ($298 million) for immediate humanitarian relief, but foreign countries are demanding transparency over how the aid is used

Beirut: Death toll rises to 171 as Lebanon marks one week since deadly blast

Officials in Lebanon had warned the prime minister and president of the risks posed by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which was kept in Beirut’s port and allegedly led to the explosion. The documents were seen by Reuters and further claimed that security officials also warned that it could decimate the capital if things went awry.

Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab,&nbsp;61, on August 10 announced the resignation of his government after four cabinet ministers quit amid street protests in the aftermath of the Beirut blasts.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/gravitas-wion-reports-from-beirut-lebanon-government-resigns-319581/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Government resigns

"I declare today the resignation of this government," Diab announced as anger poured into the street after the blasts in Lebanon's capital.

Hassan Diab, the PM of the country had earlier said that there would be accountability for the deadly blast at the “dangerous warehouse”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/lebanon-prime-minister-hassan-diabs-government-resigns-over-beirut-blasts-319555" hreflang="en">Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government resigns over Beirut blasts</a>

Meanwhile, France called for "rapid formation"&nbsp;of new government in Lebanon.

Lebanon finance minister Ghazi Wazni was the latest to resign from the government after the justice minister Marie Claude Najem, information minister Manal Abdel Samad and environment minister Damianos Kattar had resigned earlier.&nbsp;

160+ killed

According to the health ministry, at least 160 people were killed in the Beirut blasts last week which ignited protests against the government. A giant smoke cloud was seen at the site, before high speed wind shockwaves impacted the area near the city’s port where it happened.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/india-news/beirut-blast-india-to-send-relief-and-humanitarian-supplies-to-lebanon-319559" hreflang="en">Beirut blast: India to send relief and humanitarian supplies to Lebanon</a>

Michel Aoun, the president had claimed that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was being stored for six years with no safety measures, calling it “unacceptable”.

Hospitals in the city became quickly occupied, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Due to this, many were taken outside the city. Additional ambulances were called in from northern and southern parts of the country. Ambulances also came in from the Bekaa valley in the east.

Officials in Lebanon had warned the prime minister and president of the risks posed by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which was kept in Beirut’s port and allegedly led to the explosion.

Officials in Lebanon had warned the prime minister and president of the risks posed by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which was kept in Beirut’s port and allegedly led to the explosion. The documents were seen by Reuters and further claimed that security officials also warned that it could decimate the capital if things went awry. Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab, 61, on August 10 announced the resignation of his government after four cabinet ministers quit amid street protests in the aftermath of the Beirut blasts. Government resigns "I declare today the resignation of this government," Diab announced as anger poured into the street after the blasts in Lebanon's capital. Hassan Diab, the PM of the country had earlier said that there would be accountability for the deadly blast at the “dangerous warehouse”. Also read: Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government resigns over Beirut blasts Meanwhile, France called for "rapid formation" of new government in Lebanon. Lebanon finance minister Ghazi Wazni was the latest to resign from the government after the justice minister Marie Claude Najem, information minister Manal Abdel Samad and environment minister Damianos Kattar had resigned earlier. 160+ killed According to the health ministry, at least 160 people were killed in the Beirut blasts last week which ignited protests against the government. A giant smoke cloud was seen at the site, before high speed wind shockwaves impacted the area near the city’s port where it happened. Also read: Beirut blast: India to send relief and humanitarian supplies to Lebanon Michel Aoun, the president had claimed that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was being stored for six years with no safety measures, calling it “unacceptable”. Hospitals in the city became quickly occupied, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Due to this, many were taken outside the city. Additional ambulances were called in from northern and southern parts of the country. Ambulances also came in from the Bekaa valley in the east.

Lebanese leaders were informed of risk posed by explosives at port in July: Reports

Lebanon's government has stepped down as Prime Minister Hassan Diab blamed endemic corruption for a devastating explosion last week that tore through the capital.

Beirut Blast: Political upheaval takes centrestage | Lebanon Cabinet resigns | WION

Its been four weeks since the deadly blast in Beirut. The chances of finding any survivors in the rubble are negligible. The anger on the streets is growing and families of those missing are blaming the government's efforts.

21 still missing days after Beirut blast: Families slam govt rescue efforts

Before he went missing on Aug. 4, Ghassan Hasrouty, an employee of Beirut's giant grain silos for 38 years, thought he was working in the safest place in the city.

The reinforced concrete walls and underground rooms were his shelter for many days during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

He used to tell his family that he was more worried for them than himself when he set out to work each morning.

At 1730 on Tuesday, Hasrouty called his wife, Ibtissam, saying he would be sleeping at the silos that night because a shipment of grains was arriving and he could not leave.

He told her to send him a blanket and pillow.

She has not heard from him since.

Tuesday's explosion in the port of Beirut, the biggest ever to hit the city, destroyed the silos, killed at least 158 people and injured more than 6,000. It left an estimated 300,000 Lebanese effectively homeless as shockwaves ripped miles inland.

The health ministry on Saturday said 21 people were still missing.

Officials have said the blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a substance used in manufacturing fertilizers and bombs, which had been stored for six years in a nearby warehouse without adequate safety measures.

The government has promised to hold those responsible to account, but residents are seething with anger.

Hasrouty's family believe that he and six of his colleagues are somewhere under the silos and they are holding out hope that they are alive.

They say the rescue response has been too slow and disorganised and that whatever chance there was for finding them alive is being lost.

The family says that despite giving the authorities the exact location of where he was believed to have been at the time of the explosion, the rescue effort did not start until 40 hours later.

At their home in Beirut, the family has gathered every day, anxiously awaiting information.

"These people who are missing are not just numbers," says Elie, 35, Hasrouty's son.

"We need to highlight the mediocrity of management of this disaster, of this situation, how bad it is managed... not to repeat such a horrible disaster and horrible management."

Hasrouty, whose own father worked at the same silos for 40 years, was dedicated to his job, his family says. 
His daughter Tatiana, 19, flits between resignation and hope.

"We did not even get a chance to say goodbye," she says. "But we are still waiting for them... to all come back."

Before he went missing on Aug. 4, Ghassan Hasrouty, an employee of Beirut's giant grain silos for 38 years, thought he was working in the safest place in the city.

Before he went missing on Aug. 4, Ghassan Hasrouty, an employee of Beirut's giant grain silos for 38 years, thought he was working in the safest place in the city. The reinforced concrete walls and underground rooms were his shelter for many days during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. He used to tell his family that he was more worried for them than himself when he set out to work each morning. At 1730 on Tuesday, Hasrouty called his wife, Ibtissam, saying he would be sleeping at the silos that night because a shipment of grains was arriving and he could not leave. He told her to send him a blanket and pillow. She has not heard from him since. Tuesday's explosion in the port of Beirut, the biggest ever to hit the city, destroyed the silos, killed at least 158 people and injured more than 6,000. It left an estimated 300,000 Lebanese effectively homeless as shockwaves ripped miles inland. The health ministry on Saturday said 21 people were still missing. Officials have said the blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a substance used in manufacturing fertilizers and bombs, which had been stored for six years in a nearby warehouse without adequate safety measures. The government has promised to hold those responsible to account, but residents are seething with anger. Hasrouty's family believe that he and six of his colleagues are somewhere under the silos and they are holding out hope that they are alive. They say the rescue response has been too slow and disorganised and that whatever chance there was for finding them alive is being lost. The family says that despite giving the authorities the exact location of where he was believed to have been at the time of the explosion, the rescue effort did not start until 40 hours later. At their home in Beirut, the family has gathered every day, anxiously awaiting information. "These people who are missing are not just numbers," says Elie, 35, Hasrouty's son. "We need to highlight the mediocrity of management of this disaster, of this situation, how bad it is managed... not to repeat such a horrible disaster and horrible management." Hasrouty, whose own father worked at the same silos for 40 years, was dedicated to his job, his family says. His daughter Tatiana, 19, flits between resignation and hope. "We did not even get a chance to say goodbye," she says. "But we are still waiting for them... to all come back."

'They are not just numbers': Missing Beirut silo worker's family clings to hope

Lebanese police fired tear gas to try to disperse rock-throwing protesters blocking a road near parliament in Beirut on Sunday in a second day of anti-government demonstrations triggered by last week's devastating explosion.

Fire broke out at an entrance to Parliament Square as demonstrators tried to break into a cordoned-off area, TV footage showed. Protesters also broke into the housing and transport ministry offices.

Two government ministers resigned amid the political fallout of the blast and months of economic crisis, saying the government had failed to reform.

Tuesday's explosion of more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate killed 158 people and injured more than 6,000, compounding months of political and economic collapse and prompting furious calls for the government to quit.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-lebanon-to-hold-transparent-investigation-into-blast-319274" hreflang="en">Trump calls for Lebanon to hold 'transparent investigation' into blast</a>

Riot police wearing body armour and carrying batons clashed with demonstrators as thousands converged on Parliament Square and nearby Martyrs' Square, a Reuters correspondent said.

"We gave these leaders so many chances to help us and they always failed. We want them all out, especially Hezbollah, because it's a militia and just intimidates people with its weapons," Walid Jamal, an unemployed demonstrator, said, referring to the country's most influential Iran-backed armed grouping that has ministers in the government.

The country's top Christian Maronite cleric, Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai, said the cabinet should resign as it cannot "change the way it governs".

"The resignation of an MP or a minister is not enough ... the whole government should resign as it is unable to help the country recover," he said in his Sunday sermon.

Lebanon's environment minister resigned on Sunday, saying the government had lost a number of opportunities to reform, a statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanons-future-at-stake-macron-tells-donor-countries-during-un-backed-conference-319251" hreflang="en">'Lebanon's future at stake': Macron tells donor countries during UN-backed conference</a>

Damianos Kattar's departure follows the resignation of Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad earlier on Sunday&nbsp;in the wake of the explosion.

Anger boiled over into violent scenes in central Beirut on Saturday. Those protests were the biggest since October when thousands of people took to the streets to demand an end to corruption, bad governance and mismanagement.

About 10,000 people gathered at Martyrs' Square, which was transformed into a battle zone in the evening between police and protesters who tried to break down a barrier along a road leading to parliament. Some demonstrators stormed government ministries and the Association of Lebanese Banks.&nbsp;

One policeman was killed and the Red Cross said more than 170 people were injured in clashes.

'CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT'

"The police fired at me. But that won't stop us from demonstrating until we change the government from top to bottom," Younis Flayti, 55, a retired army officer, said on Sunday.

Nearby, mechanic Sabir Jamali sat beside a noose attached to a wooden frame in Martyrs' Square, intended as a symbolic warning to Lebanese leaders to resign or face hanging.

"Every leader who oppresses us should be hanged," he said, adding he will protest again.

Lawyer Maya Habli surveyed the demolished port.

"People should sleep in the streets and demonstrate against the government until it falls," she said.

The prime minister and presidency have said 2,750 tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, which is used in making fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years without safety measures at the port warehouse.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanon-information-minister-quits-in-wake-of-beirut-explosion-319243" hreflang="en">Lebanon information minister quits in wake of Beirut explosion</a>

The government has said it will hold those responsible to account.

An emergency donor conference in France raised pledges worth nearly 253 million euros ($298 million) for immediate humanitarian relief, the French presidency said.

For many, the blast was a dreadful reminder of the 1975-1990 civil war that tore the nation apart and destroyed swathes of Beirut, much of which has since been rebuilt.

"I worked in Kuwait for 15 years in sanitation to save money and build a gift shop in Lebanon and it was destroyed by the explosion," said Maroun Shehadi.

"Nothing will change until our leaders just leave."

Lebanese police fired tear gas to try to disperse rock-throwing protesters blocking a road near parliament in Beirut on Sunday in a second day of anti-government demonstrations triggered by last week's devastating explosion.

Lebanese police fired tear gas to try to disperse rock-throwing protesters blocking a road near parliament in Beirut on Sunday in a second day of anti-government demonstrations triggered by last week's devastating explosion. Fire broke out at an entrance to Parliament Square as demonstrators tried to break into a cordoned-off area, TV footage showed. Protesters also broke into the housing and transport ministry offices. Two government ministers resigned amid the political fallout of the blast and months of economic crisis, saying the government had failed to reform. Tuesday's explosion of more than 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate killed 158 people and injured more than 6,000, compounding months of political and economic collapse and prompting furious calls for the government to quit. Also read: Trump calls for Lebanon to hold 'transparent investigation' into blast Riot police wearing body armour and carrying batons clashed with demonstrators as thousands converged on Parliament Square and nearby Martyrs' Square, a Reuters correspondent said. "We gave these leaders so many chances to help us and they always failed. We want them all out, especially Hezbollah, because it's a militia and just intimidates people with its weapons," Walid Jamal, an unemployed demonstrator, said, referring to the country's most influential Iran-backed armed grouping that has ministers in the government. The country's top Christian Maronite cleric, Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai, said the cabinet should resign as it cannot "change the way it governs". "The resignation of an MP or a minister is not enough ... the whole government should resign as it is unable to help the country recover," he said in his Sunday sermon. Lebanon's environment minister resigned on Sunday, saying the government had lost a number of opportunities to reform, a statement said. Also read: 'Lebanon's future at stake': Macron tells donor countries during UN-backed conference Damianos Kattar's departure follows the resignation of Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad earlier on Sunday in the wake of the explosion. Anger boiled over into violent scenes in central Beirut on Saturday. Those protests were the biggest since October when thousands of people took to the streets to demand an end to corruption, bad governance and mismanagement. About 10,000 people gathered at Martyrs' Square, which was transformed into a battle zone in the evening between police and protesters who tried to break down a barrier along a road leading to parliament. Some demonstrators stormed government ministries and the Association of Lebanese Banks. One policeman was killed and the Red Cross said more than 170 people were injured in clashes. 'CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT' "The police fired at me. But that won't stop us from demonstrating until we change the government from top to bottom," Younis Flayti, 55, a retired army officer, said on Sunday. Nearby, mechanic Sabir Jamali sat beside a noose attached to a wooden frame in Martyrs' Square, intended as a symbolic warning to Lebanese leaders to resign or face hanging. "Every leader who oppresses us should be hanged," he said, adding he will protest again. Lawyer Maya Habli surveyed the demolished port. "People should sleep in the streets and demonstrate against the government until it falls," she said. The prime minister and presidency have said 2,750 tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, which is used in making fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years without safety measures at the port warehouse. Also read: Lebanon information minister quits in wake of Beirut explosion The government has said it will hold those responsible to account. An emergency donor conference in France raised pledges worth nearly 253 million euros ($298 million) for immediate humanitarian relief, the French presidency said. For many, the blast was a dreadful reminder of the 1975-1990 civil war that tore the nation apart and destroyed swathes of Beirut, much of which has since been rebuilt. "I worked in Kuwait for 15 years in sanitation to save money and build a gift shop in Lebanon and it was destroyed by the explosion," said Maroun Shehadi. "Nothing will change until our leaders just leave."

Beirut police fire tear gas as protesters regroup and two ministers quit

The wife of Dutch ambassador to Lebanon Jan Waltmans has died of wounds sustained in the Beirut bomb explosion, the Netherlands' foreign ministry said Saturday.

"It is with dismay and great sadness that we report the death of our colleague Hedwig Waltmans-Molier. She succumbed to injuries sustained in the massive explosion in Beirut," a ministry statement said.

Waltmans-Molier was hit by debris from the explosion shortly after returning back to Lebanon from holiday with her husband of 38 years.

"Hedwig was standing in her living room next to her husband when she was hit, sheerly by bad lack, by the explosion," the ministry said.

The 55-year-old was the only Dutch citizen reported to have died from the explosion that rocked&nbsp;Beirut on Tuesday, killing at least 154 and devastating swathes of the capital.

Five other Dutch citizens were slightly injured, the ministry said.

The wife of Dutch ambassador to Lebanon Jan Waltmans has died of wounds sustained in the Beirut bomb explosion, the Netherlands' foreign ministry said Saturday. "It is with dismay and great sadness that we report the death of our colleague Hedwig Waltmans-Molier.

The wife of Dutch ambassador to Lebanon Jan Waltmans has died of wounds sustained in the Beirut bomb explosion, the Netherlands' foreign ministry said Saturday. "It is with dismay and great sadness that we report the death of our colleague Hedwig Waltmans-Molier. She succumbed to injuries sustained in the massive explosion in Beirut," a ministry statement said. Waltmans-Molier was hit by debris from the explosion shortly after returning back to Lebanon from holiday with her husband of 38 years. "Hedwig was standing in her living room next to her husband when she was hit, sheerly by bad lack, by the explosion," the ministry said. The 55-year-old was the only Dutch citizen reported to have died from the explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday, killing at least 154 and devastating swathes of the capital. Five other Dutch citizens were slightly injured, the ministry said.

Dutch ambassador's wife, injured in Beirut explosion, dies: Netherlands

The massive chemical explosion in Beirut has left a 43-metre (141 foot) deep crater, a security official said on Sunday. Also read | Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster The blast that killed over 150 people was felt across the country and was heard as far as Cyprus.

The massive chemical explosion in Beirut has left a 43-metre (141 foot) deep crater, a security official said on Sunday. Also read | Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster The blast that killed over 150 people was felt across the country and was heard as far as Cyprus. According to the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS), the blast had a power of a magnitude 3.3 earthquake. According to the authorities, the explosion was caused after a fire broke out in the port warehouse which had a huge shipment of ammonium nitrate, the chemical normally used for fertilisers and also making explosives. The blast has injured at least 6,000 and has destroyed or damaged homes of over 300,000. The anger over Tuesday's explosion rose after the revelation that a large shipment of dangerous ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored for years in a warehouse. Also read: Anti-government protests break out in Beirut; security forces fire tear gas However, it remains unclear how the shipment caught fire. "The explosion in the port left a crater 43 meters deep," the Lebanese security official told AFP, citing assessments by French experts working in the disaster area. According to an international tribunal investigating his murder, the crater caused by the explosion was larger than the one left by the enormous blast in 2005 that killed former prime minister Rafic Hariri. Teams from France, Russia, Germany, Italy and other countries are still carrying out rescue work near the site of the explosion. The deadly blast has further deteriorated the already battering economic situation of Lebanon and led to several international aids. (Inputs from AFP)

Beirut port blast crater 43 metres deep: Security official

What's the unsolved mystery behind the Beirut Blast? Get to know in this video..

WION Exclusive Ground Report: The unsolved mystery behind the Beirut Blast

Exclusive visuals from the Beirut blast site. Watch in these visual, after the enormous blast, how the epicenter looks like?

Exclusive visuals from the Beirut blast site

After the horrifying blast in Beirut, Lebanon, several countries have come ahead to lend support in every possible manner.&nbsp;

To talk about similar aids,&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron and his American counterpart Donald Trump had a phone call to discuss plans of extending immediate help to the ailing city.

The two leaders spoke on the phone on Friday evening and "expressed their deep sadness over the loss of life and devastation in Beirut," , White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ship-owner-files-lawsuit-against-those-responsible-for-beirut-port-explosion-318961">Also read:&nbsp;Ship owner files lawsuit against those responsible for Beirut port explosion</a>

Trump and Macron also discussed plans of joining other countries in sending the necessary aids to Beirut.

The talk happened after it was observed that while France and other countries offered emergency aid, such as team of doctors and equipment, the US has not offered any sort of aid to the ailing city till now.

The blast, that took place a couple of days ago, has taken more than&nbsp;154 lives, injured 5,000 and caused immense structural damage.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Had a lengthy discussion this morning with President Macron of France concerning numerous subjects, but in particular the catastrophic event which took place in Beirut, Lebanon...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1291864494608732170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After the call with the French President, trump also had a call with the Lebanon President who was informed that three large US aircrafts are en route Lebanon with emergency supplies and personnel.

Trump also announced through Twitter that he will be having a conference call with Lebanon President, leaders, French president and their other counterparts from around the world to discuss different ways in which Lebanon can be offered help.&nbsp;

"We will be having a conference call on Sunday with President Macron, leaders of Lebanon, and leaders from various other parts of the world. Everyone wants to help!," he tweeted.

The US Agency for International Development has offered to&nbsp;provide more than $15 million in assistance, including food aid for 50,000 people for three months. The US military will also be sending medical supplies&nbsp;and pharmaceuticals to support up to 60,000 people for&nbsp; the next three months.

Meanwhile, Trump had raised suspicions about the origin of the blast claiming that nobody could be sure if this was an attack or now, at this point.&nbsp;Lebanese President Michel Aoun has promised citizens to look deeper in this matter and hold the guilty people accountable for one of the worst blasts the country has faced in the past few years.

After the horrifying blast in Beirut, Lebanon, several countries have come ahead to lend support in every possible manner. To talk about similar aids, French President Emmanuel Macron and his American counterpart Donald Trump had a phone call to discuss plans of extending immediate help to the ailing city.

After the horrifying blast in Beirut, Lebanon, several countries have come ahead to lend support in every possible manner. To talk about similar aids, French President Emmanuel Macron and his American counterpart Donald Trump had a phone call to discuss plans of extending immediate help to the ailing city. The two leaders spoke on the phone on Friday evening and "expressed their deep sadness over the loss of life and devastation in Beirut," , White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement. Also read: Ship owner files lawsuit against those responsible for Beirut port explosion Trump and Macron also discussed plans of joining other countries in sending the necessary aids to Beirut. The talk happened after it was observed that while France and other countries offered emergency aid, such as team of doctors and equipment, the US has not offered any sort of aid to the ailing city till now. The blast, that took place a couple of days ago, has taken more than 154 lives, injured 5,000 and caused immense structural damage. Had a lengthy discussion this morning with President Macron of France concerning numerous subjects, but in particular the catastrophic event which took place in Beirut, Lebanon... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2020 × After the call with the French President, trump also had a call with the Lebanon President who was informed that three large US aircrafts are en route Lebanon with emergency supplies and personnel. Trump also announced through Twitter that he will be having a conference call with Lebanon President, leaders, French president and their other counterparts from around the world to discuss different ways in which Lebanon can be offered help. "We will be having a conference call on Sunday with President Macron, leaders of Lebanon, and leaders from various other parts of the world. Everyone wants to help!," he tweeted. The US Agency for International Development has offered to provide more than $15 million in assistance, including food aid for 50,000 people for three months. The US military will also be sending medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to support up to 60,000 people for the next three months. Meanwhile, Trump had raised suspicions about the origin of the blast claiming that nobody could be sure if this was an attack or now, at this point. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has promised citizens to look deeper in this matter and hold the guilty people accountable for one of the worst blasts the country has faced in the past few years.

Trump and Macron discuss plans for immediate aid to Lebanon; US to send aid for three months

A Lebanese businessman whose cruise ship was destroyed and in the Beirut port explosion has filed a lawsuit against those who will be found responsible for this week's blast.

According to Lebanon's state-run National News agency, the lady had some staff members killed and wounded.

Orient Queen owner Merhi Abou Merhi on Friday became the first person to sue over the Tuesday explosion that killed at least 154 people, wounded more than 5,000 and damaged wide parts of the Lebanese capital.

Two Orient Queen employees, a Syrian and an Ethiopian, were killed and seven others were wounded in the blast.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanons-hezbollah-leader-denies-storing-arms-at-beirut-blast-site-318967">Also read | Lebanon's Hezbollah leader denies storing arms at Beirut blast site</a>

Lebanon's state news agency says the chief of the customs department has been questioned by a judge over this week's deadly blast in Beirut, after which the judge placed him under arrest.

Sixteen other port officials and staffers are also under arrest.

Daher has said he and his predecessor sent six letters, the last of which was in 2017, to a judge, warning repeatedly that the huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored in the port was a danger. They had asked judicial officials for a ruling on a way to remove it.

(with inputs from agencies)

A Lebanese businessman whose cruise ship was destroyed and in the Beirut port explosion has filed a lawsuit against those who will be found responsible for this week's blast.

A Lebanese businessman whose cruise ship was destroyed and in the Beirut port explosion has filed a lawsuit against those who will be found responsible for this week's blast. According to Lebanon's state-run National News agency, the lady had some staff members killed and wounded. Orient Queen owner Merhi Abou Merhi on Friday became the first person to sue over the Tuesday explosion that killed at least 154 people, wounded more than 5,000 and damaged wide parts of the Lebanese capital. Two Orient Queen employees, a Syrian and an Ethiopian, were killed and seven others were wounded in the blast. Also read | Lebanon's Hezbollah leader denies storing arms at Beirut blast site Lebanon's state news agency says the chief of the customs department has been questioned by a judge over this week's deadly blast in Beirut, after which the judge placed him under arrest. Sixteen other port officials and staffers are also under arrest. Daher has said he and his predecessor sent six letters, the last of which was in 2017, to a judge, warning repeatedly that the huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored in the port was a danger. They had asked judicial officials for a ruling on a way to remove it. (with inputs from agencies)

Ship owner files lawsuit against those responsible for Beirut port explosion

The massive blast in Beirut has dealt a major blow to the already battered economy of Lebanon. The blast will cause a 15 billion dollar loss to the once-thriving trading country. Watch report.

Massive blast deals a fresh blow to Lebanon's economy | World News

Four days after a massive explosion at the port in Beirut left more than 150 people dead, more than 60 people are still missing, a health ministry official said Saturday.

Four days after a massive explosion at the port in Beirut left more than 150 people dead, more than 60 people are still missing, a health ministry official said Saturday. "The number of dead is 154, including 25 who have not yet been identified," the official told AFP. "In addition, we have more than 60 people still missing." Also read: Anti-government protests break out in Beirut; security forces fire tear gas The health minister said on Friday that at least 120 of the 5,000 people who were injured on Tuesday are in critical condition. The anger over Tuesday's explosion rose after the revelation that a large shipment of dangerous ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored for years in a warehouse. However, it remains unclear how the shipment caught fire. Also read | Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster Teams from France, Russia, Germany, Italy and other countries are still carrying out rescue work near the site of the explosion. The deadly blast has further deteriorated the already battering economic situation of Lebanon and led to a number of international aids.

More than 60 still missing after Beirut massive explosion: Health ministry

The explosions in Beirut were not a freak incident. They were designed by years of dysfunction, corruption, and incompetence by Lebanon's political elite. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how the Beirut blasts are a warning for the rest of the world.

Gravitas: Beirut Blasts | A warning for the rest of the world

An investigative journalist in Beirut has claimed that only a part of the Ammonium Nitrate stockpile blew up on Tuesday. WION gets you an exclusive ground report from Beirut.

Gravitas: WION reports from Beirut | Another ticking time bomb in Beirut?

A petition calling for France to take control of Lebanon has got more than 50,000 signatures. This appeal is supported by the citizens of Lebanon - who are blaming their government for the Beirut blasts. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why Lebanese people want another country to take over their government.

Gravitas: Beirut blasts | Lebanese People call on France to takeover Lebanon

The Indian government will extend assistance to Lebanon after getting an assessment of the damage from the government there. The massive blast caused by highly volatile ammonium nitrate ripped through country's capital Beirut earlier this week killing over 150 people and injuring over 5,000.

The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava in response to a question said, "We have sought an assessment of the extend of damage from the Lebanese govt and based on that we will decide the kind of assistance, the nature of assistance that we will extend to them. "

On any Indians impacted by the blast, Shrivastava said, "no reported casualties among the Indian causality. 5 minor injuries. Our embassies are in touch with Indian community associations and extending all necessary assistance."

There are nearly 9,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon according to MEA with a majority of them employed as workers in companies, agricultural farms.

Indian envoy to Lebanon Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan speaking to WION on the day of the blast said, "We are in touch with the Indian community. We have advised them to remain calm. No injuries reported among the Indian community till now."

Indian mission has also shared its Help Line Numbers with the Indian Community.

The Indian government will extend assistance to Lebanon after getting an assessment of the damage from the government there. The massive blast caused by highly volatile ammonium nitrate ripped through country's capital Beirut earlier this week killing over 150 people and injuring over 5,000.

The Indian government will extend assistance to Lebanon after getting an assessment of the damage from the government there. The massive blast caused by highly volatile ammonium nitrate ripped through country's capital Beirut earlier this week killing over 150 people and injuring over 5,000. The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava in response to a question said, "We have sought an assessment of the extend of damage from the Lebanese govt and based on that we will decide the kind of assistance, the nature of assistance that we will extend to them. " On any Indians impacted by the blast, Shrivastava said, "no reported casualties among the Indian causality. 5 minor injuries. Our embassies are in touch with Indian community associations and extending all necessary assistance." There are nearly 9,000 Indian nationals in Lebanon according to MEA with a majority of them employed as workers in companies, agricultural farms. Indian envoy to Lebanon Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan speaking to WION on the day of the blast said, "We are in touch with the Indian community. We have advised them to remain calm. No injuries reported among the Indian community till now." Indian mission has also shared its Help Line Numbers with the Indian Community.

India to extend assistance to Lebanon after getting assessment from Beirut

A day before the port blast that killed more than 150 people and ravaged parts of Beirut, the country's Foreign Minister&nbsp;Nassif Hitti&nbsp;resigned after&nbsp;warning that it&nbsp;is ''siding towards becoming a failed state''.

The&nbsp;doomsday prediction&nbsp;began taking shape within hours and came true a day later. The blast zone is now a wasteland of blackened ruins, while whole neighbourhoods were largely destroyed.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Friday the explosion&nbsp;was caused either by negligence or a missile attack.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/satellite-images-capture-beirut-before-vs-after-devastating-blast-318562">Satellite images capture Beirut before vs after devastating blast</a>

It could have been "negligence or foreign interference through a missile or bomb," the president said in a televised interview, three days after the explosion.

He&nbsp;rejected calls for an international probe&nbsp;after world leaders and Lebanese nationals abroad and at home pressed for an impartial investigation.

However, experts believe that the incident was&nbsp;designed by years of dysfunction, corruption and incompetence.

It is a warning for the rest of the world as well as the&nbsp;disaster could happen anywhere.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

The storage of&nbsp;ammonium&nbsp;nitrate, the substance behind the deadly explosion in the port of Beirut on Tuesday, has come under increased regulation in recent years to avoid involvement of the ubiquitous product in accidents which, although rare, can be devastating.&nbsp;Since 1916, it&nbsp;has been responsible for at least 30 major disasters.

What happened in Beirut was criminal negligence. It was a bomb that waited to go off for almost seven years and nobody bothered to defuse it.

The explosive ammonium nitrate arrived in Lebanon seven years ago, in 2013. Lebanese custom officials requested for the cargo’s disposal at least six times. But no one paid heed. It's as if they wanted this disaster to happen.

While corruption and incompetence is a deadly mix, adding&nbsp;ammonium nitrate makes it a ticking bomb waiting to explode.

Almost 700 tonnes of&nbsp;ammonium&nbsp;nitrate&nbsp;has been stuck in an Indian port since 2015, officials confirmed.

Indian authorities afterwards ordered a review of all potentially hazardous materials in its ports and were alerted to 690 tonnes of&nbsp;ammonium&nbsp;nitrate&nbsp;in Chennai in southern India.

Thirty-seven containers of the compound were imported from South Korea in 2015 by an Indian firm for use in fertilisers but were seized after the substance was found to be explosives-grade.

The local customs department on Thursday sought to allay concerns, saying that the chemicals posed no danger and that an auction process to sell it off was under way.

Although the mega-explosion happened in Beirut but entire Lebanon is now in ruins.

This a grim reminder for the world how corruption and incompetence created the perfect highway to hell.

A day before the port blast that killed more than 150 people and ravaged parts of Beirut, the country's Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned after warning that it is ''siding towards becoming a failed state''.

A day before the port blast that killed more than 150 people and ravaged parts of Beirut, the country's Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned after warning that it is ''siding towards becoming a failed state''. The doomsday prediction began taking shape within hours and came true a day later. The blast zone is now a wasteland of blackened ruins, while whole neighbourhoods were largely destroyed. Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Friday the explosion was caused either by negligence or a missile attack. Also see: Satellite images capture Beirut before vs after devastating blast It could have been "negligence or foreign interference through a missile or bomb," the president said in a televised interview, three days after the explosion. He rejected calls for an international probe after world leaders and Lebanese nationals abroad and at home pressed for an impartial investigation. However, experts believe that the incident was designed by years of dysfunction, corruption and incompetence. It is a warning for the rest of the world as well as the disaster could happen anywhere. Also see: Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline The storage of ammonium nitrate, the substance behind the deadly explosion in the port of Beirut on Tuesday, has come under increased regulation in recent years to avoid involvement of the ubiquitous product in accidents which, although rare, can be devastating. Since 1916, it has been responsible for at least 30 major disasters. What happened in Beirut was criminal negligence. It was a bomb that waited to go off for almost seven years and nobody bothered to defuse it. The explosive ammonium nitrate arrived in Lebanon seven years ago, in 2013. Lebanese custom officials requested for the cargo’s disposal at least six times. But no one paid heed. It's as if they wanted this disaster to happen. While corruption and incompetence is a deadly mix, adding ammonium nitrate makes it a ticking bomb waiting to explode. Almost 700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate has been stuck in an Indian port since 2015, officials confirmed. Indian authorities afterwards ordered a review of all potentially hazardous materials in its ports and were alerted to 690 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in Chennai in southern India. Thirty-seven containers of the compound were imported from South Korea in 2015 by an Indian firm for use in fertilisers but were seized after the substance was found to be explosives-grade. The local customs department on Thursday sought to allay concerns, saying that the chemicals posed no danger and that an auction process to sell it off was under way. Although the mega-explosion happened in Beirut but entire Lebanon is now in ruins. This a grim reminder for the world how corruption and incompetence created the perfect highway to hell.

How years of dysfunction, corruption and incompetence led to Beirut explosion

Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse dozens of anti-government demonstrators angered by a cataclysmic blast on Thursday.

Tuesday's blast killed nearly 150 people, wounded at least 5,000 and destroyed entire districts of the capital. The death toll was expected to rise as rescue workers keep digging through the rubble. The blast zone is now a wasteland of blackened ruins, while whole neighbourhoods were largely destroyed.

Lebanese authorities said it was triggered by a fire igniting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in a warehouse at Beirut's port since 2013.&nbsp;

This raised questions as to how such a huge cargo of the highly explosive substance could have been left unsecured for so long. Its cause and aftermath are widely being seen as the most shocking expression yet of their government's incompetence.

The scuffles in central Beirut took place in a ravaged street leading to parliament, the wreckage from Tuesday's explosion still littering the entire area.

Protesters had sparked a blaze, vandalised stores and lobbed stones at security forces, according to the state-run National News Agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beiruts-accidental-cargo-how-an-unscheduled-port-visit-led-to-disaster-318756">Also read |&nbsp;Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster</a>

The explosion came as Lebanon was already knee-deep in its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

It added to the grievances of a protest movement that emerged in October to demand the removal of a political class deemed inept and corrupt.

Meanwhile, a petition to put Lebanon under a French mandate has garnered more than 50,000 signatures in 24 hours.

President Emmanuel Macron landed in Beirut on Thursday morning to show support for France's Middle East protege and former colonial-era protectorate.

Activists have called for a large anti-government demonstration on Saturday -- an event they have titled "hang them by the gallows."&nbsp;

Thursday's scuffles erupted as Lebanon's ambassador to Jordan resigned, saying 'total negligence' by the country's authorities signalled the need for a leadership change.

It is the second such resignation over Tuesday's blast, after lawmaker Marwan Hamadeh also stepped down on Wednesday.

Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse dozens of anti-government demonstrators angered by a cataclysmic blast on Thursday. Tuesday's blast killed nearly 150 people, wounded at least 5,000 and destroyed entire districts of the capital.

Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse dozens of anti-government demonstrators angered by a cataclysmic blast on Thursday. Tuesday's blast killed nearly 150 people, wounded at least 5,000 and destroyed entire districts of the capital. The death toll was expected to rise as rescue workers keep digging through the rubble. The blast zone is now a wasteland of blackened ruins, while whole neighbourhoods were largely destroyed. Lebanese authorities said it was triggered by a fire igniting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in a warehouse at Beirut's port since 2013. This raised questions as to how such a huge cargo of the highly explosive substance could have been left unsecured for so long. Its cause and aftermath are widely being seen as the most shocking expression yet of their government's incompetence. The scuffles in central Beirut took place in a ravaged street leading to parliament, the wreckage from Tuesday's explosion still littering the entire area. Protesters had sparked a blaze, vandalised stores and lobbed stones at security forces, according to the state-run National News Agency. Also read | Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster The explosion came as Lebanon was already knee-deep in its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. It added to the grievances of a protest movement that emerged in October to demand the removal of a political class deemed inept and corrupt. Meanwhile, a petition to put Lebanon under a French mandate has garnered more than 50,000 signatures in 24 hours. President Emmanuel Macron landed in Beirut on Thursday morning to show support for France's Middle East protege and former colonial-era protectorate. Activists have called for a large anti-government demonstration on Saturday -- an event they have titled "hang them by the gallows." Thursday's scuffles erupted as Lebanon's ambassador to Jordan resigned, saying 'total negligence' by the country's authorities signalled the need for a leadership change. It is the second such resignation over Tuesday's blast, after lawmaker Marwan Hamadeh also stepped down on Wednesday.

Anti-government protests break out in Beirut; security forces fire tear gas

Days after two blasts ripped through Beirut, Lebanon is still picking the pieces and sliding dangerously close to the brink.

First came an economic collapse, then a deadly pandemic and now the blasts. Three lakh people have been left homeless in a matter of a few seconds. Lebanon neither has the money nor the bandwidth to build shelter homes for the survivors.

The shock of the blasts has turned into anger with citizens blaming political leaders calling them incompetent and corrupt. The outpouring is so strong that people of Lebanon want a revolution and they are even ready for foreign intervention.

They want a foreign power - a former coloniser&nbsp;to take charge of their country. It's almost unheard of in the modern world. WION is the only network from India tracking this story from the first day&nbsp;and from Ground Zero.

Citizens in Lebanon have lost all faith in their government. They trust a foreign government more than their own elected officials. There was a protest against the government of Lebanon which took&nbsp;place when French President Emmanuel Macron was in Beirut on Thursday.&nbsp;

The citizens&nbsp;want France to intervene in Lebanon’s crisis. They want France to back a revolution that would lead to the downfall of Lebanon’s political elite. France once ruled Lebanon. French President Emmanuel Macron was mobbed by a crowd during his visit to Beirut. They called their own president a "terrorist" and demanded a fall of the regime.

Macron promised that he won’t let aid fall into the hands of the corrupt. Lebanon was under French rule a hundred years ago. After the end of the World War-I, Lebanon was occupied by the allied forces. It was placed under French military administration. In 1923, the League of Nations gave the mandate for Lebanon and Syria to France which was&nbsp;to be administered by France.

Lebanon became fully independent only in 1946 after World War-II ended. Now, there are thousands who want a return to the past. A petition has been floated to put Lebanon under a French mandate once again for 10 years. The petition got more than 50,000 signatures in 24 hours.

It couldn’t get worse for the Lebanon government. The French president did what no senior Lebanese politician has done so far, he visited the worst affected areas to see the suffering first hand and struck a chord. The anger swelled and the protests became violent. For Lebanon's elected leaders it's a major crisis of credibility and the days ahead don't look easy.

The big verdict is yet to come. The verdict in the Hariri trial. In 2005, a car bomb attack had killed former prime minister Rafik al Hariri. The killing had ruptured the country. A Sunni leader was killed and the accused were Shia men belonging to members of the powerful Hezbollah. For 15 years, a United Nations-backed tribunal has heard the case. The Hezbollah has rejected them. The case was heard in The Netherlands.

The verdict is expected on August, 18. It could inflame political and sectarian tensions. It's like Murphy's law - everything that could go wrong, is going wrong for Lebanon. The killing of Hahriri had upended the politics, not just of Lebanon, but of the entire West Asian region for years mainly because the Hezbollah has been blamed for the attack which is a Shiite militia now also a political party. The Hezbollah holds veto power over all cabinet decisions in Lebanon. They run the government and remain arch enemies of Lebanon's neighbour Israel.

It's quite a cocktail of conflicts. The streets have erupted once again. The citizens of Lebanon have launched yet another protest. On Thursday, many of them took to the streets. They have bigger battles to fight than the virus from Wuhan. Lebanon is witnessing an existential crisis.

Days after two blasts ripped through Beirut, Lebanon is still picking the pieces and sliding dangerously close to the brink. First came an economic collapse, then a deadly pandemic and now the blasts.

Days after two blasts ripped through Beirut, Lebanon is still picking the pieces and sliding dangerously close to the brink. First came an economic collapse, then a deadly pandemic and now the blasts. Three lakh people have been left homeless in a matter of a few seconds. Lebanon neither has the money nor the bandwidth to build shelter homes for the survivors. The shock of the blasts has turned into anger with citizens blaming political leaders calling them incompetent and corrupt. The outpouring is so strong that people of Lebanon want a revolution and they are even ready for foreign intervention. They want a foreign power - a former coloniser to take charge of their country. It's almost unheard of in the modern world. WION is the only network from India tracking this story from the first day and from Ground Zero. Citizens in Lebanon have lost all faith in their government. They trust a foreign government more than their own elected officials. There was a protest against the government of Lebanon which took place when French President Emmanuel Macron was in Beirut on Thursday. The citizens want France to intervene in Lebanon’s crisis. They want France to back a revolution that would lead to the downfall of Lebanon’s political elite. France once ruled Lebanon. French President Emmanuel Macron was mobbed by a crowd during his visit to Beirut. They called their own president a "terrorist" and demanded a fall of the regime. Macron promised that he won’t let aid fall into the hands of the corrupt. Lebanon was under French rule a hundred years ago. After the end of the World War-I, Lebanon was occupied by the allied forces. It was placed under French military administration. In 1923, the League of Nations gave the mandate for Lebanon and Syria to France which was to be administered by France. Lebanon became fully independent only in 1946 after World War-II ended. Now, there are thousands who want a return to the past. A petition has been floated to put Lebanon under a French mandate once again for 10 years. The petition got more than 50,000 signatures in 24 hours. It couldn’t get worse for the Lebanon government. The French president did what no senior Lebanese politician has done so far, he visited the worst affected areas to see the suffering first hand and struck a chord. The anger swelled and the protests became violent. For Lebanon's elected leaders it's a major crisis of credibility and the days ahead don't look easy. The big verdict is yet to come. The verdict in the Hariri trial. In 2005, a car bomb attack had killed former prime minister Rafik al Hariri. The killing had ruptured the country. A Sunni leader was killed and the accused were Shia men belonging to members of the powerful Hezbollah. For 15 years, a United Nations-backed tribunal has heard the case. The Hezbollah has rejected them. The case was heard in The Netherlands. The verdict is expected on August, 18. It could inflame political and sectarian tensions. It's like Murphy's law - everything that could go wrong, is going wrong for Lebanon. The killing of Hahriri had upended the politics, not just of Lebanon, but of the entire West Asian region for years mainly because the Hezbollah has been blamed for the attack which is a Shiite militia now also a political party. The Hezbollah holds veto power over all cabinet decisions in Lebanon. They run the government and remain arch enemies of Lebanon's neighbour Israel. It's quite a cocktail of conflicts. The streets have erupted once again. The citizens of Lebanon have launched yet another protest. On Thursday, many of them took to the streets. They have bigger battles to fight than the virus from Wuhan. Lebanon is witnessing an existential crisis.

After blasts, protesters in Beirut want France to intervene in Lebanon

The chemicals that went up in flames in Beirut's deadliest peace-time explosion arrived in the Lebanese capital seven years ago on a leaky Russian-leased cargo ship that, according to its captain, should never have stopped there.

"They were being greedy," said Boris Prokoshev, who was captain of the Rhosus in 2013 when he says the owner told him to make an unscheduled stop in Lebanon to pick up extra cargo.

Prokoshev said the ship was carrying 2,750 tonnes of a highly combustible chemical from Georgia to Mozambique when the order came to divert to Beirut on its way through the Mediterranean.

The crew were asked to load some heavy road equipment and take it to Jordan's Port of Aqaba before resuming their journey onto Africa, where the ammonium nitrate was to be delivered to an explosives manufacturer.

But the ship was never to leave Beirut, having tried and failed to safely load the additional cargo before becoming embroiled in a lengthy legal dispute over port fees.

"It was impossible," Prokoshev, 70, told Reuters of the operation to try and load the extra cargo. "It could have ruined the whole ship and I said no," he said by 'phone from his home in the Russian resort town of Sochi on the Black Sea coast.

The captain and lawyers acting for some creditors accused the ship's owner of abandoning the vessel and succeeded in having it arrested. Months later, for safety reasons, the ammonium nitrate was unloaded and put in a dock warehouse.

On Tuesday, that stockpile caught fire and exploded not far from a built-up residential area of the city. The huge blast killed 145 people, injured 5,000, flattened buildings and made more than a quarter of a million people homeless.

The ship might have succeeded in leaving Beirut, had it managed to load the additional cargo.

The crew had stacked the equipment, including excavators and road-rollers, on top of the doors to the cargo hold which held the ammonium nitrate below, according to the ship's Ukrainian boatswain, Boris Musinchak. But the hold doors buckled.

"The ship was old and the cover of the hold bent," Musinchak said by 'phone. "We decided not to take risks." 
The captain and three crew spent 11 months on the ship while the legal dispute dragged on, without wages and with only limited supplies of food. Once they left, the ammonium nitrate was unloaded.

"The cargo was highly explosive. That's why it was kept on board when we were there ... That ammonium nitrate had a very high concentration," Prokoshev said.

BOUND FOR MOZAMBIQUE

Prokoshev identified the ship's owner as Russian businessman Igor Grechushkin. Attempts to contact Grechushkin were unsuccessful.

Cypriot police questioned Grechushkin at his home in Cyprus on Thursday, a security source said. A Cyprus police spokesman said an individual, whom he did not name, had been questioned at the request of Interpol Beirut in relation to the cargo.

The ammonium nitrate was sold by Georgian fertiliser maker Rustavi Azot LLC, and was to be delivered to a Mozambique explosives maker, Fabrica de Explosivos.

A senior representative for Fabrica de Explosivos did not immediately respond when sent a request for comment on LinkedIn.

Levan Burdiladze, the Rustavi Azot plant director, told Reuters that his company had only operated the chemical factory for the last three years and so he could not confirm whether the ammonium nitrate was produced there.

He called the decision to store the material in Beirut port a "gross violation of safe storage measures, considering that ammonium nitrate loses its useful properties in six months."

Initial Lebanese investigations into what happened have pointed to inaction and negligence in the handling of the potentially dangerous chemical.

Lebanon's cabinet on Wednesday agreed to place all Beirut port officials who have overseen storage and security since 2014 under house arrest, ministerial sources said.

The head of Beirut port and the head of customs said that several letters were sent to the judiciary asking for the material be removed, but no action was taken.

Reuters could not immediately reach Lebanon's justice minister for comment. The Justice Ministry is closed for three days of national mourning.

According to Prokoshev, the ship had been leaking but was seaworthy when it sailed into Beirut in September 2013. However, he said Lebanese authorities paid little attention to the ammonium nitrate, which had been stacked in the hull in large sacks.

"I feel sorry for the people (killed or injured in the blast). But local authorities, the Lebanese, should be punished. They did not care about the cargo at all," he said.

The abandoned Rhosus sank where she was moored in Beirut harbour, according to a May, 2018 email from a lawyer to Prokoshev, which said it had gone down "recently". 
&nbsp;

The chemicals that went up in flames in Beirut's deadliest peace-time explosion arrived in the Lebanese capital seven years ago on a leaky Russian-leased cargo ship that, according to its captain, should never have stopped there.

The chemicals that went up in flames in Beirut's deadliest peace-time explosion arrived in the Lebanese capital seven years ago on a leaky Russian-leased cargo ship that, according to its captain, should never have stopped there. "They were being greedy," said Boris Prokoshev, who was captain of the Rhosus in 2013 when he says the owner told him to make an unscheduled stop in Lebanon to pick up extra cargo. Prokoshev said the ship was carrying 2,750 tonnes of a highly combustible chemical from Georgia to Mozambique when the order came to divert to Beirut on its way through the Mediterranean. The crew were asked to load some heavy road equipment and take it to Jordan's Port of Aqaba before resuming their journey onto Africa, where the ammonium nitrate was to be delivered to an explosives manufacturer. But the ship was never to leave Beirut, having tried and failed to safely load the additional cargo before becoming embroiled in a lengthy legal dispute over port fees. "It was impossible," Prokoshev, 70, told Reuters of the operation to try and load the extra cargo. "It could have ruined the whole ship and I said no," he said by 'phone from his home in the Russian resort town of Sochi on the Black Sea coast. The captain and lawyers acting for some creditors accused the ship's owner of abandoning the vessel and succeeded in having it arrested. Months later, for safety reasons, the ammonium nitrate was unloaded and put in a dock warehouse. On Tuesday, that stockpile caught fire and exploded not far from a built-up residential area of the city. The huge blast killed 145 people, injured 5,000, flattened buildings and made more than a quarter of a million people homeless. The ship might have succeeded in leaving Beirut, had it managed to load the additional cargo. The crew had stacked the equipment, including excavators and road-rollers, on top of the doors to the cargo hold which held the ammonium nitrate below, according to the ship's Ukrainian boatswain, Boris Musinchak. But the hold doors buckled. "The ship was old and the cover of the hold bent," Musinchak said by 'phone. "We decided not to take risks." The captain and three crew spent 11 months on the ship while the legal dispute dragged on, without wages and with only limited supplies of food. Once they left, the ammonium nitrate was unloaded. "The cargo was highly explosive. That's why it was kept on board when we were there ... That ammonium nitrate had a very high concentration," Prokoshev said. BOUND FOR MOZAMBIQUE Prokoshev identified the ship's owner as Russian businessman Igor Grechushkin. Attempts to contact Grechushkin were unsuccessful. Cypriot police questioned Grechushkin at his home in Cyprus on Thursday, a security source said. A Cyprus police spokesman said an individual, whom he did not name, had been questioned at the request of Interpol Beirut in relation to the cargo. The ammonium nitrate was sold by Georgian fertiliser maker Rustavi Azot LLC, and was to be delivered to a Mozambique explosives maker, Fabrica de Explosivos. A senior representative for Fabrica de Explosivos did not immediately respond when sent a request for comment on LinkedIn. Levan Burdiladze, the Rustavi Azot plant director, told Reuters that his company had only operated the chemical factory for the last three years and so he could not confirm whether the ammonium nitrate was produced there. He called the decision to store the material in Beirut port a "gross violation of safe storage measures, considering that ammonium nitrate loses its useful properties in six months." Initial Lebanese investigations into what happened have pointed to inaction and negligence in the handling of the potentially dangerous chemical. Lebanon's cabinet on Wednesday agreed to place all Beirut port officials who have overseen storage and security since 2014 under house arrest, ministerial sources said. The head of Beirut port and the head of customs said that several letters were sent to the judiciary asking for the material be removed, but no action was taken. Reuters could not immediately reach Lebanon's justice minister for comment. The Justice Ministry is closed for three days of national mourning. According to Prokoshev, the ship had been leaking but was seaworthy when it sailed into Beirut in September 2013. However, he said Lebanese authorities paid little attention to the ammonium nitrate, which had been stacked in the hull in large sacks. "I feel sorry for the people (killed or injured in the blast). But local authorities, the Lebanese, should be punished. They did not care about the cargo at all," he said. The abandoned Rhosus sank where she was moored in Beirut harbour, according to a May, 2018 email from a lawyer to Prokoshev, which said it had gone down "recently".

Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster

Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was lit up in the Lebanese flag on Thursday (August 6) to commemorate the victims of this week's deadly blast in Beirut.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer lit up in Lebanese flag in solidarity

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Friday said that the port blast that killed over 150 people and caused massive destruction in Beirut was caused either because of negligence or a missile attack.

"There are two possible scenarios for what happened: it was either negligence or foreign interference through a missile or bomb," he said, as he called for "swift justice".&nbsp;

In pics |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/explosion-decimates-beiruts-port-disrupting-the-struggling-countrys-lifeline-318312">Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline</a>

The Lebanese president admitted "paralysed" system required to be "reconsidered", but rejected calls of an international probe.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beiruts-accidental-cargo-how-an-unscheduled-port-visit-led-to-disaster-318756">Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster</a>

The anger over Tuesday's explosion rose after the revelation that a large shipment of dangerous ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored for years in a warehouse.

However, it remains unclear how the shipment caught fire.&nbsp;

Teams from France, Russia, Germany, Italy and other countries are still carrying out rescue work near the site of the explosion.&nbsp;

The deadly blast has further deteriorated the already battering economic situation of Lebanon and led to a number of international aids.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council will visit Beirut on Saturday.&nbsp;

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the Lebanese capital on Thursday stressed on implementing deep reforms ahead of the upcoming aid conference.&nbsp;

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Friday said that the port blast that killed over 150 people and caused massive destruction in Beirut was caused either because of negligence or a missile attack.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Friday said that the port blast that killed over 150 people and caused massive destruction in Beirut was caused either because of negligence or a missile attack. "There are two possible scenarios for what happened: it was either negligence or foreign interference through a missile or bomb," he said, as he called for "swift justice". In pics | Explosion decimates Beirut's port, disrupting the struggling country's lifeline The Lebanese president admitted "paralysed" system required to be "reconsidered", but rejected calls of an international probe. Also read | Beirut's accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster The anger over Tuesday's explosion rose after the revelation that a large shipment of dangerous ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored for years in a warehouse. However, it remains unclear how the shipment caught fire. Teams from France, Russia, Germany, Italy and other countries are still carrying out rescue work near the site of the explosion. The deadly blast has further deteriorated the already battering economic situation of Lebanon and led to a number of international aids. Charles Michel, president of the European Council will visit Beirut on Saturday. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the Lebanese capital on Thursday stressed on implementing deep reforms ahead of the upcoming aid conference.

'Negligence or missile attack': Lebanese President on Beirut explosion

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-executive-order-banning-transactions-with-tiktok-owner-after-45-days-318735">Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/07/20/150711-trump1.jpg?itok=_y1rsUsj" />

'The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security,' the order said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/mahinda-rajapaksa-led-slpp-registers-landslide-victory-in-sri-lankas-parliamentary-polls-318727">Mahinda Rajapaksa-led SLPP registers landslide victory in Sri Lanka's parliamentary polls</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/07/153446-mahinda-rajapaksa-led-slpp.jpg?itok=DmMJihmX" />

The official results declared showed that the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) alone had won 145 seats and with its allies have 150 seats, a two thirds majority in the 225-member parliament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-saudi-spy-accuses-crown-prince-of-trying-to-assassinate-him-318715">Ex-Saudi spy accuses crown prince of trying to assassinate him</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/07/153442-saudi-afp.jpg?itok=MQRpjWgN" />

Saad Aljabri said Prince Mohammed sent a 'hit squad' to Canada, where he lives in exile, to kill and dismember him in the same way that Khashoggi was murdered allegedly by the prince's agents in Istanbul in October 2018.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-revokes-global-do-not-travel-coronavirus-warning-318718">US revokes global 'do not travel' coronavirus warning</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/08/07/153443-us-travel.jpg?itok=eSXDV5xl" />

The announcement comes as President Donald Trump seeks a quick return to normal in the United States, which has suffered by far the highest number of deaths from COVID-19.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-beirut-blasts-first-ground-report-on-wion-318706">Gravitas: Beirut blasts | First ground report on WION</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%3D%3D" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days 'The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security,' the order said.

Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days 'The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security,' the order said. Mahinda Rajapaksa-led SLPP registers landslide victory in Sri Lanka's parliamentary polls The official results declared showed that the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) alone had won 145 seats and with its allies have 150 seats, a two thirds majority in the 225-member parliament. Ex-Saudi spy accuses crown prince of trying to assassinate him Saad Aljabri said Prince Mohammed sent a 'hit squad' to Canada, where he lives in exile, to kill and dismember him in the same way that Khashoggi was murdered allegedly by the prince's agents in Istanbul in October 2018. US revokes global 'do not travel' coronavirus warning The announcement comes as President Donald Trump seeks a quick return to normal in the United States, which has suffered by far the highest number of deaths from COVID-19. Gravitas: Beirut blasts | First ground report on WION ×

Morning news brief: Trump issues orders for TikTok ban in 45 days, Sri Lanka poll result and more

It has been 72 hours since a massive explosion rocked the city of Beirut. Pictures from the city sent shockwaves around the world. What's happening on the ground? WION gets you the first ground report from Beirut.

Gravitas: Beirut blasts | First ground report on WION

The US army will send shipments of water, food and medicine to Lebanon in wake of the massive explosion that left Beirut devastated with hundreds of thousands homeless.

Deliveries of three C-17 military planes loaded with food, water and medical supplies were "impending," an official said.

The US was ready to continue providing assistance to the Lebanese during the "terrible tragedy" in partnership with the Lebanese army, the US embassy in Lebanon and the US international aid agency, USAID, said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, public anger in Lebanon is on the boil over the blast caused by a massive pile of ammonium nitrate that had for years lain in a ramshackle portside warehouse. It left at least 137 dead and 5,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

The fallout is expected to cost billions in a small country already plunged into an unprecedented economic and social crisis, battling the coronavirus, and where almost half of the inhabitants live in poverty.

The US army will send shipments of water, food and medicine to Lebanon in wake of the massive explosion that left Beirut devastated with hundreds of thousands homeless.

The US army will send shipments of water, food and medicine to Lebanon in wake of the massive explosion that left Beirut devastated with hundreds of thousands homeless. Deliveries of three C-17 military planes loaded with food, water and medical supplies were "impending," an official said. The US was ready to continue providing assistance to the Lebanese during the "terrible tragedy" in partnership with the Lebanese army, the US embassy in Lebanon and the US international aid agency, USAID, said on Thursday. Meanwhile, public anger in Lebanon is on the boil over the blast caused by a massive pile of ammonium nitrate that had for years lain in a ramshackle portside warehouse. It left at least 137 dead and 5,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands of people homeless. The fallout is expected to cost billions in a small country already plunged into an unprecedented economic and social crisis, battling the coronavirus, and where almost half of the inhabitants live in poverty.

US army to deliver relief supplies to Beirut after devastation

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, heads to Beirut on Saturday, a day ahead of a major&nbsp;donors conference to raise funds for the blast-damaged Lebanese capital&nbsp;

"Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help," Michel tweeted, announcing meetings with President Michel Aoun, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Traveling to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Beirut?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Beirut</a> tomorrow to convey Europe’s solidarity with the people in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lebanon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lebanon</a>. 
 
Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help. 
 
Will meet with President Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Berri and President of Council of Ministers Diab. <a href="https://t.co/bKdULdPSNE">pic.twitter.com/bKdULdPSNE</a>
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) <a href="https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1291671228927873026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After his trip, Michel, whose council represents the 27 EU leaders, will take part in a videoconference organised by French President Emmanuel Macron to gather support for rescue operations.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/satellite-images-capture-beirut-before-vs-after-devastating-blast-318562">Satellite images capture Beirut before vs after devastating blast</a>

European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said Michel and the president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had written to the 27 member states urging them to step up support for Lebanon.

At Sunday's videoconference, the EU executive will be represented by the commissioner for crisis management and humanitarian aid, Janez Lenarcic.

"We are working on an estimate of humanitarian needs and we need as much information as possible," Mamer said.&nbsp;

"We are in an emergency phase. This is not a conference for reconstruction. That will take place at a later stage," he warned.&nbsp;

The European Commission says it has coordinated the dispatch of 300 rescue experts to Beirut and has made available $39 million&nbsp;for initial emergency needs, including medical aid.&nbsp;

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, heads to Beirut on Saturday, a day ahead of a major donors conference to raise funds for the blast-damaged Lebanese capital "Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help," Michel tweeted, announcing meetings with President Michel Aoun, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, heads to Beirut on Saturday, a day ahead of a major donors conference to raise funds for the blast-damaged Lebanese capital "Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help," Michel tweeted, announcing meetings with President Michel Aoun, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Traveling to #Beirut tomorrow to convey Europe’s solidarity with the people in #Lebanon. Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help. Will meet with President Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Berri and President of Council of Ministers Diab. pic.twitter.com/bKdULdPSNE — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) August 7, 2020 × After his trip, Michel, whose council represents the 27 EU leaders, will take part in a videoconference organised by French President Emmanuel Macron to gather support for rescue operations. Also see: Satellite images capture Beirut before vs after devastating blast European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said Michel and the president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had written to the 27 member states urging them to step up support for Lebanon. At Sunday's videoconference, the EU executive will be represented by the commissioner for crisis management and humanitarian aid, Janez Lenarcic. "We are working on an estimate of humanitarian needs and we need as much information as possible," Mamer said. "We are in an emergency phase. This is not a conference for reconstruction. That will take place at a later stage," he warned. The European Commission says it has coordinated the dispatch of 300 rescue experts to Beirut and has made available $39 million for initial emergency needs, including medical aid.

European Council chief Charles Michel to visit Beirut on Saturday

beirut

Beirut, News on Beirut, stories on Beirut, articles on Beirut, Beirut stories at Wion, Beirut news, Beirut latest news