At least 4 Bangladeshis were killed in a massive warehouse explosion that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut on Tuesday.
The number of wounded Bangladeshis is at least 100. Among them, 21 members of the Bangladesh Navy and 78 expatriates were severely injured.
Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut confirmed the death of four Bangladeshis citing hospital source while the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the injuries of the Bangladesh Navy members.
The deceased Bangladeshi expatriates are Mehedi Hasan and Rasel Miah of Brahmanbaria, Mizanur of Madaripur, and Rezaul from Cumilla.
During the blast, Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Bijoy was anchored at Beirut port with some 110 officials onboard, the ISPR said in a press release on Wednesday.
Among the 21 wounded Navy men, one is in critical condition and is currently being treated at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre. Others are undergoing treatment at Hadum Hospital.
Immediately after the incident, Major General Md Jahangir Al Mustahidur Rahman, psc, the Bangladesh ambassador in Beirut, visited BNS Bijoy and helped in transferring the injured and making arrangements for their treatment.
"The blast blew me metres away. First I thought an earthquake had struck. I was in a daze and was all covered in blood”, said one Bangladeshi migrant worker.
BS/