The death toll from a massive explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday has reached 100 and more victims are under the rubble, the Head of the Lebanese Red Cross told local broadcasters on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
George Kettaneh told LBCI TV by telephone that the Red Cross was coordinating with the health ministry for morgues to take victims because hospitals were overwhelmed, the agency added.
The United Nations has said that it is “actively assisting” in response to the horrific explosions that ripped through the port area of Beirut. Some UN naval peacekeepers were among the thousands wounded.
A statement from a UN spokesperson said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Lebanon, following the horrific explosions in the capital.
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The UN chief wished a speedy recovery to the injured, including several UN personnel working in Lebanon.
News reports suggest that along with dozens of deaths, perhaps several thousand people were injured in the massive blasts, which sent shockwaves across the bustling city of Beirut, bursting out windows and shaking buildings. The cause of the explosions has not yet been confirmed.
“The United Nations remains committed to supporting Lebanon at this difficult time and is actively assisting in the response to this incident,” Guterres said.
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