Explosions in Beirut: on social networks, the stars express their support for Lebanon

Two explosions in the port of Beirut on Tuesday August 5 left at least 100 dead and thousands injured, according to the Lebanese Red Cross. According to the authorities, this toll is expected to worsen, as rescuers continue their search for victims under the rubble, on this day of national mourning in Lebanon.

Scenes of desolation and panic in the Lebanese capital led to an avalanche of reactions on social networks, in particular from personalities from the worlds of culture and sport. In the evening, the singer Mika, born in Beirut, expressed his deep emotion, saying that "[his] heart is with Beirut and Lebanon". 

Read also >> Explosions in Beirut: "When the sun rises, my city will no longer exist"

“I watch and read with concern, sadness and horror the events unfolding in Beirut. What happened, lives hurt or lost forever, breaks my heart. We don't yet know what happened. but the suffering is excruciating, ”he wrote on Twitter. 

I watch and read with concern, sadness and horror the events taking place in Beirut. What happened, lives hurt or lost forever, breaks my heart. We do not yet know what happened but the suffering is excruciating.

Although he is not of Lebanese origin, French singer Bilal Hassani also reacted with the hashtag #PrayForLebanon.

#PrayForLebanon 🙏🏼🇱🇧

The French actor Omar Sy, for his part, said "wholeheartedly with the Lebanese people". 

With all my heart with the Lebanese people 💔

American actress Angelina Jolie posted a video of the fire on her Instagram account, in which a blast from one of the two explosions can be heard. Missioned by the UN, she had visited Lebanon several times for humanitarian causes, in particular to help Syrian refugees.

View this post on Instagram

Pray for #Lebanon 🙏

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolie_offiicial) on Aug 4, 2020 at 10:49 am PDT

She also marked by the disaster on Tuesday evening, Hollywood star Salma Hayek, of Lebanese origin, reported on her Instagram account to be "heartbroken".

"Today two explosions devastated the capital of Lebanon, which was already bruised. My heart is broken thinking of all the people who have lost loved ones and who are in the affected areas of my beloved Beirut ", described Salma Hayek. 

View this post on Instagram

Today two explosions devastated the capital of the already hurting Lebanon. My broken heart goes out to all the people who have lost loved ones and who are in the affected areas of my beloved Beirut. Hoy dos explosions devastated the capital of the damaged Líbano. Mi corazón roto está con todas las personas que han perdido seres queridos y que están en las áreas afectadas de mi amado Beirut.

A post shared by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek) on Aug 4, 2020 at 3:09 pm PDT

Other strong ties unite the actress to the land of the Cedars: this love for Lebanon had pushed her in 2015 to make an animated film adapted from the work of the Lebanese philosopher Khalil Gibran. That same year, she visited Syrian refugees in a camp in Lebanon.

Léa Salamé "stunned" 

The Franco-Lebanese journalist Léa Salamé also reacted on Twitter during the night by commenting on the scenes of chaos in the Lebanese capital. 

"I have been watching in a loop, stunned, for hours the images of the city where I was born, disemboweled, destroyed, I watch the streets of my childhood swept away by the explosion. Beirut is on the ground tonight, I am far from her, and I'm heartbroken, "the reporter wrote. Born in Lebanon, Léa Salamé is the daughter of Ghassan Salamé, former Lebanese Minister of Culture from 2000 to 2003. 

I have watched in a loop, stunned, for hours the images of the city where I was born, destroyed, destroyed, I look at the streets of my childhood swept away by the explosion.
Beirut is on the ground tonight, I'm far from her, and my heart is broken. #Lebanon #Beyrouth pic.twitter.com/F0YMgx77nN

Upset footballers 

Several internationally renowned sportsmen have also published messages of solidarity on social networks, like the French footballer Kylian Mbappé. "All my prayers go to the victims of this explosion in Beirut", he wrote on Twitter

🇱🇧🙏🏽😳 ...
All my prayers go to the victims of this explosion in Beirut.

Riyad Mahrez, Algerian footballer playing for the Manchester City club, also reacted in a tweet posted on his account a few hours after the tragedy. 

Beirut ❤️🇱🇧

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