German diplomat killed in Beirut blast
In the devastating explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut, an employee of the German Embassy was also killed, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced Thursday.
"Our worst fears have been confirmed. A member of our Embassy in Beirut has died in her apartment as a result of the explosion," he said of the first confirmed German fatality.
"All members of the Foreign Ministry are deeply saddened by the loss of their colleague."
Maas expressed his and colleagues' condolences to the relatives and staff of the Embassy in Beirut.
"My thanks go to all those who, like our late colleague, take great personal risks every day all over the world in the service of our country," Maas said.
.@HeikoMaas: In Folge der Explosion in #Beirut ist eine Angehörige unserer Botschaft in #Libanon in ihrer Wohnung ums Leben gekommen. Wir sind in tiefer Trauer um die Kollegin. Ihren Angehörigen spreche ich auch im Namen der Kolleg*innen u. der Bundesregierung mein Beileid aus. pic.twitter.com/Kbcg77zR5M
— Auswärtiges Amt (@AuswaertigesAmt) August 6, 2020
A tweet from the Foreign Office expressing Maas' condolences.
READ ALSO: German embassy staff among thousands wounded in Beirut blast
The massive detonation in the port of Beirut on Tuesday has killed more than 130 people and injured around 5,000.
Rescue workers expect the number of victims to rise further. The explosion destroyed large parts of the port and surrounding areas.
Germany has pledged aid to Beirut, both in the form of financial support and Germany a large-scale Bundeswehr mission.
The country's Air Force is providing its Airbus A310 "MedEvac", which is equipped to transport seriously injured people.
The exact cause of the detonation is still unclear. According to various reports, it is connected with large quantities of ammonium nitrate which are said to have been stored in the port for years without any safety precautions.
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"Our worst fears have been confirmed. A member of our Embassy in Beirut has died in her apartment as a result of the explosion," he said of the first confirmed German fatality.
"All members of the Foreign Ministry are deeply saddened by the loss of their colleague."
Maas expressed his and colleagues' condolences to the relatives and staff of the Embassy in Beirut.
"My thanks go to all those who, like our late colleague, take great personal risks every day all over the world in the service of our country," Maas said.
.@HeikoMaas: In Folge der Explosion in #Beirut ist eine Angehörige unserer Botschaft in #Libanon in ihrer Wohnung ums Leben gekommen. Wir sind in tiefer Trauer um die Kollegin. Ihren Angehörigen spreche ich auch im Namen der Kolleg*innen u. der Bundesregierung mein Beileid aus. pic.twitter.com/Kbcg77zR5M
— Auswärtiges Amt (@AuswaertigesAmt) August 6, 2020
A tweet from the Foreign Office expressing Maas' condolences.
READ ALSO: German embassy staff among thousands wounded in Beirut blast
The massive detonation in the port of Beirut on Tuesday has killed more than 130 people and injured around 5,000.
Rescue workers expect the number of victims to rise further. The explosion destroyed large parts of the port and surrounding areas.
Germany has pledged aid to Beirut, both in the form of financial support and Germany a large-scale Bundeswehr mission.
The country's Air Force is providing its Airbus A310 "MedEvac", which is equipped to transport seriously injured people.
The exact cause of the detonation is still unclear. According to various reports, it is connected with large quantities of ammonium nitrate which are said to have been stored in the port for years without any safety precautions.
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