By J. Jala | 03:22 PM August 05, 2020
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said 11 Filipinos, mostly seafarers, were reported missing while the death toll remained at two and the number of injuries rose to eight after a massive explosion hit the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday.
GMA News said DFA spokesperson Ed Meñez said the Filipino casualties were in their employers’ homes during the explosion.
Foreign Undersecretary Sarah Arriola at a press briefing said those who died and were wounded were household service workers.
“Everything is very fluid. We are looking at all hospitals,” she said, adding that financial assistance will be provided to all the victims.
Arriola said the Philippine Embassy in Beirut is also trying to locate the missing sailors.
The sailors were onboard the cruise liner MV Orient Queen at the time of the explosion, she added.
The Philippine Embassy, Arriola added, will be open to assist affected Filipinos and that those who wish to return home will be provided assistance.
A massive explosion rocked Lebanon’s capital Beirut Tuesday evening. The blast took place in a storage facility at its port, and some said looked like an atomic bomb exploding because of the mushroom cloud.
At least 100 people died in the explosion, according to the Lebanese Red Cross.
Nearly 4,000 were injured when an explosion in Beirut’s port area sent shockwaves in the city, Christian Broadcasting Network reported.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hasan Diab has declared Wednesday a day of mourning, and President Michel Aoun called for “urgent” defense council talks.
The explosions also come as Lebanon awaits the verdict on Friday on the 2005 murder of former Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri, killed in a huge truck bomb attack.
Four alleged members of the Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah are on trial in absentia at a court in the Netherlands over the huge Beirut bombing that killed Sunni billionaire Hariri and 21 other people.
Meanwhile, the DFA said for Filipinos in need of assistance, the Philippine Embassy can be reached through +961 3859430, +961 81334836, +961 71474416, +961 70681060 and +961 70858086 (telephone) or beirutpe@gmail.com (email), or on Facebook.
Let’s pray for all the killed and wounded of the Beirut’s blast.