Beirut Explosion; Indonesia Offers Condolences to Lebanon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry offered condolences over the massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, that broke out on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. The Ministry stressed that they would keep monitoring the development of the situation as the authorities were still sweeping the area.

"The Foreign Affairs Minister is coordinating with the Indonesian Ambassador in Beirut, to obtain the latest information and ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens,” as noted in a press statement released by the ministry today, August 5, 2020.

There was no report on Indonesian citizens killed in the incident, while one person identified as NNE was injured and had been released home after undergoing minor medical treatment.

According to the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, there are 1,447 Indonesian citizens in the country. Of the figure, 1,234 people are the personnel of the Indonesian peacekeeping force (Garuda Contingent) who joined the UN Peace Mission. They have been deployed to the blast scene to help evacuation efforts.

“People can contact the Indonesian Embassy’s hotline in Beirut at +961 70 817 310 or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ at +62 812-9007-0027,” the ministry wrote.

The devastating blast allegedly came from warehouses near central Beirut, Lebanon, that stored highly explosive material. Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures.

However, the trigger was still being investigated and was so far suspected to have started from the welding project taking place near the warehouse. The Beirut explosion at least killed 100 people and injured 4,000 people.

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Beirut Blast; Embassy Confirms Indonesia's Garuda Contingent Safe

ISTMAN MP | REUTERS