Explosion In Lebanon, Indonesian Ambassador Ensures All Indonesian Citizens Are Safe

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JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon, Hajriyanto Y Thohari, confirmed that all Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were in Beirut were safe after the big explosion in the port area.

According to the Indonesian Embassy, there are 1,447 Indonesian citizens in Lebanon. A total of 1,234 of whom are Garuda Contingent and 213 are civilians, including families of the Indonesian Embassy and students.

"Based on the latest checks, so far all Indonesian citizens are safe and secure. The Indonesian Embassy has conveyed an appeal through the WAG (WhatsApp Group) and through Indonesian citizens' nodes to immediately report if they are in an unsafe situation," Hajriyanto said in a written statement on Wednesday August 5.

He was also informed about an Indonesian citizen who was undergoing quarantine at the Rafiq Hariri Hospital, Beirut, which is not far from the location of the explosion. The Indonesian citizen was confirmed in a safe condition.

The big explosion occurred in the Port of Beirut at 18.02 local time which is close to Downtown Beirut. The extent of destruction and property damage occurred within a radius of several kilometers from the center of the explosion.

From the interim reports, this large explosion killed more than 50 people and injured more than 3,000 people. This explosion shattered windows, stones and caused the streets of the Lebanese capital to tremble.

Regarding this explosion, Hajriyanto said there was no official statement about the cause. Initial sources provide analysis that the explosion occurred in one of the large hangars containing explosive materials stored in the harbor.

"There is also information that the big explosion came from a large volume of sodium nitrate stored in the Port. Sodium Nitrate is a white material used for food preservatives and can explode when exposed to fire," he said.