Smoke above the port of Beirut shortly after the explosions, August 4, 2020. - Hassan Ammar / AP / SIPA

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At least 100 dead and nearly 4,000 injured in two explosions in Beirut

It was a real tragedy that Beirut experienced on Tuesday. Two strong explosions shook the Lebanese capital above which rises a thick cloud of smoke. The strong blasts, which took place in the port area, were heard in several areas of the city. They have left at least 100 dead and nearly 4,000 injured, according to the latest report. Lebanon declared national mourning on Wednesday.

A video I received on WhatsApp of the scalr of explosion in #Beirut, confirming it was at the port. pic.twitter.com/bIkcyfsi0o

- Bissan Fakih (@BissanCampaigns) August 4, 2020

France sends aid and resources to Lebanon

Lebanon and France have historically maintained very close ties. It is therefore natural that Emmanuel Macron and several members of the government assured Beirut of their solidarity. The head of state thus spoke Tuesday evening with his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Aoun to announce to him the routing of "help and means". France will send a detachment of Civil Security and "several tons of medical equipment". The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, also expressed his "solidarity with the Lebanese hard hit this evening". Finally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, who was visiting Lebanon at the end of July, also wished to express his sadness in the face of the tragedy shaking Lebanon.

We are deploying a civil security detachment and several tonnes of medical equipment in Lebanon. Emergency doctors will also reach Beirut as soon as possible to strengthen hospitals. France is already engaged.

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 5, 2020

While Beirut has just been hit hard by explosions, France offers its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the many injured.

- Jean-Yves Le Drian (@JY_LeDrian) August 4, 2020

A violent fire devastates more than 800 hectares near Marseille

Campsites on the Blue Coast, on the Mediterranean coast west of Marseille, were evacuated Tuesday evening, a violent fire having already devastated several hundred hectares of vegetation. Some 1,200 holidaymakers from three campsites in La Couronne, a seaside district in the town of Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), were taken by bus to gymnasiums in Martigues to spend the night there. The fire that broke out in the afternoon in the middle of the forest had already devastated 800 hectares of vegetation around 10 p.m. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin is on site.

World

Jean-Yves Le Drian visiting a Lebanon in crisis

Miscellaneous

The Anglet fire is "of human origin"

  • Firefighters
  • Marseilles
  • Martigues
  • Fire
  • Fire
  • Explosion
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Beirut
  • Lebanon
  • Society
  • BIM