2 more Filipinos dead from Beirut blast

LEBANON. People are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Aug.6, 2020. (AP Photo)
LEBANON. People are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Aug.6, 2020. (AP Photo)

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday, August 7, 2020, said two more Filipinos died from the two massive explosions that ripped through Beirut in Lebanon, bringing the death toll among Filipinos to four.

The number of Filipinos injured also increased to 31, with two still in critical condition, DFA said based on a report from the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.

"Two Filipinos remain in critical condition. They are confined and are being monitored at Rizk Hospital," reported Philippine Embassy Beirut Charge d'affaires Ajeet Panemanglor.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said in a statement that Embassy officials will continue to ascertain the condition of the Filipino community in Beirut.

"We are saddened by the latest turn of developments. The higher figure comes as our Embassy personnel work to ascertain the condition of the Filipinos in its jurisdiction," Arriola said.

In a previous statement, the DFA said all 13 Filipino seafarers from damaged cruise ship Orient Queen, which was reported docked in the Port of Beirut at the time of the explosions on August 4, are safe and accounted for.

Eleven of the 13 seafarers were initially reported as missing.

Two huge explosions on August 4 were traced to 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse at the Port of Beirut for six years.

Ammonium nitrate is a highly explosive chemical used in fertilizers. (SunStar Philippines from PR)

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