Pakistan’s relief goods reach Beirut

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C-130 plane loaded with relief goods for the victims of horrible blasts has reached Beirut, the capital of Lebenon, on August 7. 

In order to express solidarity and alleviate the sufferings of the people of Lebanon after massive explosions, the C-130 plane carrying 80 tons of medicines and food items was sent to the port city of Beirut, a government official informed PNFS.

A series of explosions had rocked Beirut on the evening of August 4. The powerful main blast was reported to have resulted in at least 157 deaths, 5,000 injuries, US$10–15 billion in property damage and an estimated 300,000 people being made homeless. 

The blast was linked to about 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, equivalent to around 1,155 tonnes of TNT that had been confiscated by the government from the abandoned ship MV Rhosus and had remained stored at the port without proper safety measures for six years. 

The blast, condoled by world leaders, was detected by the United States Geological Survey as a seismic event of magnitude 3.3.