Calgary Lebanese community holds vigil for victims of Beirut explosion
Posted Aug 5, 2020 11:47 am.
Last Updated Aug 5, 2020 10:31 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The local Lebanese community came together Wednesday night to remember those who died in a recent explosion in Beirut.
The Calgary Lebanese Association holding a vigil at City Hall.
We stand in solidarity with brothers and sisters from Lebanese Community.
God Bless the ones affected in and outside of Lebanon.
Thank you to Calgary Lebanese Association for putting together such an amazing event in short notice. #strongertogether #PrayForLebanon???????? pic.twitter.com/wDWA1jN5LT
— Jasraj Singh Hallan ???????? (@jasrajshallan) August 6, 2020
Alex Halat with the association says it’ll take a few months to find out why and how this happened and he doesn’t know where they’ll begin since the area of damage is almost 40 kilometres.
“The amount of destruction not just on the port but miles out,” said Halat. “We’re talking buildings kilometres away where windows have been blown apart and the structural integrity of a lot of those buildings have just been compromised due to the magnitude of this.”
He adds, part of the investigation will be how to avoid disasters like this in the future.
The explosion in the Lebanese capital killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others and caused immense damage to streets, homes and businesses.
It’s believed a collection of fireworks and ammonium nitrate ignited causing the blast. What sparked those items is still under investigation.
