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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Joseph Wilkes

Beirut explosion: British embassy staff injured in deadly Lebanon blast

Staff at the UK embassy in Beirut suffered injuries in the huge blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

After Boris Johnson confirmed British nationals were among those caught up in the aftermath of the explosion, a Foreign Office spokesperson told Sky News that a small number of staff sustained non-life threatening injuries in the explosion and and where necessary are receiving medical attention.

No one from the embassy was killed.

The Prime Minister said the Government is "ready to provide support in any way we can", and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK stands in solidarity with Lebanon.

In a tweet, Mr Johnson said: "The pictures and videos from Beirut tonight are shocking. All of my thoughts and prayers are with those caught up in this terrible incident.

"The UK is ready to provide support in any way we can, including to those British nationals affected."

Videos of a huge mushroom cloud rising above the Middle Eastern city were shared extensively on social media on Tuesday evening local time.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said a state of emergency should be declared in Beirut for two
weeks, and called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Aoun, in remarks published on the Presidency Twitter account, said it was "unacceptable" that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored in a warehouse for six years without safety measures and vowed that those responsible would face the "harshest punishments".

The Lebanese Red Cross has said there are hundreds of casualties and a number of fatalities, with the authorities in the country yet to announce the cause of the explosion.

In a tweet, Mr Raab said: "My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the devastating explosion in #Beirut today.

Red plume of fire behind a highrise in central Beirut (AFP via Getty Images)

"The UK stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and is ready to offer help and support, including to those British nationals impacted."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said in a tweet: "The images of explosions in Beirut are deeply worrying. Our thoughts are with those affected, the emergency services and the people of Lebanon."

Former chancellor Sajid Javid tweeted to say his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people of Lebanon, while London mayor Sadiq Khan said the city stood with Beirut amid "truly horrifying images" emerging from Beirut.

Two huge explosions rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut, wounding dozens of people, shaking buildings and sending huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky (AFP via Getty Images)

Liberal Democrat acting leader Sir Ed Davey said in a tweet there were "truly awful scenes and in a city that has already seen so much heartbreak".

The death toll has risen to more than 70 killed and more 2,700 injured, Lebanon's health minister said in televised remarks.

A fire at a warehouse with explosives at the Port of Beirut led to massive blasts (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: "Like everyone who has seen the footage of the devastating explosion in Beirut, I am truly shocked.

"The size and the ferocity of the blast on people and buildings many kilometres away is horrifying.

"On behalf of the whole House, we send our love and prayers to the people of Lebanon."

People have been crushed under rubble (AFP via Getty Images)

Save the Children said its offices in Beirut, around three miles from the harbour, were badly damaged in the explosion, which shook the building and destroyed shop fronts in the neighbourhood.

The charity said: "Our rapid response team stand by prepared to support the government in their efforts in the coming days.

"The circumstances of the explosion are not yet known, but Save the Children teams on the ground reported entire streets wiped out, with children unaccounted for as rescue teams work through destroyed buildings to get people out of the rubble," it said.

Lebanese media carried images of people trapped under rubble, some bloodied, after the massive explosions, the cause of which was not immediately known (AFP via Getty Images)

"Residential and commercial buildings have been shattered in what is being described as the biggest explosion in Lebanon's recent history.

"Hospitals in Beirut are reporting that they are unable to treat further casualties as hundreds of beds immediately filled up following the blast.

"A further hospital in the capital has been completely decimated. The military have deployed to rescue those caught in the wreckage, with medical personnel treating casualties on the streets."

Former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri - who lives near the area of the explosions - is said to be unharmed, according to initial reports (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Jad Sakr, Save the Children's country director in Lebanon, said the charity was "shocked and devastated".

He said: "The death toll may not be known for several days but we do know is that in a disaster like this, children may be hurt, shocked and separated from their parents.

"Our child protection teams are ready to support the government's efforts which will almost certainly go on for several days to come.

Damaged buildings are seen after the blast (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"It is vital that children and their families get access to the services they urgently need, including medical care and physical and emotional protection.

"The incident could not have occurred at a worst time and has hit communities who were already suffering from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and the economic deterioration.

"Beirut's main port, now completely damaged, is vital for much of the food, grains and fuel that Lebanon imports, and families will immediately feel the shortage in basic needs as a result of this tragedy."

Saudi Arabia's rulers said they are "following with great concern the consequences of Beirut's explosion", according to Reuters.

And they affirmed the kingdom's "full support and solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people".

The explosion was so powerful that it shook the ground, causing people to think they were caught up in an earthquake.

The blast sent shockwaves across the area, shattering windows and causing apartment balconies to collapse.    

According to some reports, the blast was that loud it was heard in Cyprus.

Walid Abdo, a 43-year-old school teacher in the neighbourhood of Gemayzeh near Beirut, said: "It was like a nuclear explosion."

It is a scene of devastation (AFP via Getty Images)

Charbel Haj, who works at the port, said it started as small explosions like firecrackers, then the huge blast erupted and he was thrown off his feet. His clothes were torn.

Lebanon's state news agency NNA and two security sources said the blast happened at warehouses housing explosives while a third claimed there were chemicals stored in the area.

Initial reports suggest that Warehouse 12 was stockpiling fireworks and multiple forms of chemicals.

A witness told Reuters: "I saw a fireball and smoke billowing over Beirut. People were screaming and running, bleeding. 

"Balconies were blown off buildings. Glass in high-rise buildings shattered and fell to the street."

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