Russia to Deploy Mobile Hospital in Beirut for Blast Victims

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will send a mobile hospital, doctors, rescuers, and employees from the "Rospotrebnadzor" service to Beirut by five planes on August 5. This was reported to the "RIA Novosti" agency by the ministry's press service.

“As part of a humanitarian action, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will send a total of 5 planes to Beirut, Lebanon, to provide assistance and neutralize the consequences of the powerful explosion that occurred yesterday,” the press service stated.

“All specialists will have special suits and protective measures, considering the epidemiological situation related to the coronavirus pandemic,” the ministry noted.

The capital of Lebanon is attempting to recover from the devastating explosion that occurred on the evening of August 4. According to the Red Cross office in Lebanon, the number of victims from the powerful explosion at the Beirut port has exceeded 100, while over 4,000 people are injured. Among the victims are 6 Armenians.

The shockwave from the explosion was so strong that no part of the capital remained unharmed; even neighboring Jordan recorded tremors with a magnitude of 4.5.

Beirut has been declared a disaster zone following the powerful explosion on the evening of August 4, and a state of emergency has been imposed in the city for two weeks, from August 4 to 18.

In an emergency meeting of the Lebanese Supreme Security Council, Prime Minister Hassan Diab stated that those responsible for the disaster would be held strictly accountable. “It is absolutely unacceptable that 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were stored in the port warehouse for six years without any preventive measures taken by the port authorities,” Diab emphasized.

The devastating explosion in Beirut has also caused significant damage to Armenian community structures. “The doors, windows, and chandeliers of the Mother Cathedral in Antelias, the See, the Armenian studies and educational centers, as well as the "Cilicia" museum have been damaged,” the message from the Catholicosate stated.