There are "good chances" of finding survivors under the rubble in Beirut. A French rescuer said this to President Emmanuel Macron who went to the scene. "We are looking for a group of 7 or 8 missing people who may have been trapped in an operations room buried in the blast," said the colonel who leads the French rescue team that arrived yesterday. "We think there is a good chance of finding people alive," he added.
A crowd of Lebanese gathered around French President Emmanuel Macron on the blast site in Beirut launched an appeal to France to help them chase political leaders out of power. "Help us! Revolution!", Raged the angry crowd against President Michel Aoun and against the political class, accused of corruption and bad management that led to the disaster at the port of the capital.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the port has risen to at least 137 dead and 5 thousand injured and the displaced are 300 thousand . The Lebanese government calls for the arrest of those responsible for storage. And one of the two wounded Italian soldiers speaks: 'We were lucky, the thought goes to the Lebanese'. Tripoli port authorities said they are ready to replace Beirut's.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had a telephone conversation today with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab . During the interview Conte expressed - reads the note - deep solidarity of the Italian government for the tragic explosion that occurred in Beirut on 4 August. In ensuring the unconditional Italian support for the Lebanese authorities and people in this painful circumstance, the president confirmed that Italy has already sent personnel and materials - through a concerted action between the Civil Protection, Ministry of Affairs Foreign and Defense - and is ready to provide any further assistance required. The two prime ministers agreed - reports the note - to remain in close contact.
Lebanon, Corporal Caldarulo recounts the moments of the explosion