In a post on Twitter in English yesterday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his support for the Lebanese people for the tragedy in Beirut and noted that "Greece stands ready to provide any assistance needed."
"On behalf of the Greek people, I want to express my deepest condolences to the people of Lebanon, especially to the families who have suffered losses, and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. Our thoughts are with you," the Greek Prime Minister also said.
On behalf of the Greek people, I want to express my deepest condolences to the people of Lebanon, especially to the families who have suffered losses, and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. Our thoughts are with you.
Greece stands ready to provide any assistance needed.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) August 4, 2020
Staying true his word, Mitsotakis has dispatched Greek rescuers of the Disasters Special Unit of the Fire Service to assist Lebanese rescue efforts to help those still stuck in rubble caused by the port explosion.
Yesterday, a devastating explosion rocked Beirut's port, killing at least 100 people, injuring thousands more, and leaving over 300,000 people homeless according to Lebanese officials.
The blast was so powerful that it could be felt over 200 kilometres away in Cyprus.
Cyprus said it stood ready to offer medical aid to neighbouring Lebanon.
“Cyprus is ready to accept injured persons for treatment and send medical teams if required,” Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides as reported by Greek City Times.
Christodoulides said the Cypriot embassy in Beirut, which was closed at the time of the blast, was extensively damaged.
In addition to extensive damage to the Cypriot embassy, the Greek embassy was also damaged in the blast. No injuries from either embassies were reported.
Unconfirmed reports by ERT claim that a Greek citizen was killed in the blast, however Panagiotis Andriotis, President of the Greek community in Lebanon, told Ethnos there were no Greek nationals among the victims.
"So far I have no report that a Greek is among the victims. Unfortunately, among the dead is a Lebanese wife of a Greek. She was seriously injured and today she succumbed to her injuries," Andriotis told Ethnos.
Instructions for Greek citizens who are in Lebanon and have been affected by the explosions in the port of Beirut were issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Greek citizens can contact the Embassy of Greece at 00961 78990315 and 00961 81507061, as well as the Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at +30210368 1730 and at e-mail: [email protected].
