In Pictures

In Pictures: World mourns Beirut blast victims

Vigils held, buildings lit with Lebanese flag and blood donations organised in various cities across the globe.

Palestinians donate bloods, in Gaza, Palestine, on August 5, 2020 during a public blood donation campaign for the lebanese community following the explosion at Beirut port. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPh — Palestinians donate blood in the Gaza Strip during a public blood donation campaign for the Lebanese community. [Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Vigils have been held in multiple cities across the world to honour the victims of the deadly blast in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, which has left at least 137 people dead and more than 5,000 injured.

Tuesday’s was the most powerful explosion to hit a country that has seen more than its share of destruction. Rescuers searched desperately under the rubble, hoping to find survivors.

Lebanon was already being crushed by an economic crisis, its healthcare system overloaded as it tried to deal with scarce resources in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Ambulances were called in from outside Beirut to help ferry the thousands of injured people to what medical facilities remained standing after the explosion.

In solidarity with the victims, dozens of Palestinians in the city of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip participated in a blood donation drive sponsored by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. “I donated my blood in a moment of loyalty to the Lebanese people,” said Abu Diab Ouida.

Organisers said they would coordinate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to try to get the blood donations delivered to Lebanon.

The Gaza Strip has been under a joint Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007, and it remains unclear whether the donated blood will be able to reach Lebanon.

In Israel, the Tel Aviv municipality lit up City Hall with the Lebanese flag in solidarity, with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai posting on Twitter that “humanity takes precedence over every conflict, and our hearts are with the Lebanese people following the horrible disaster that befell it”.

Not everyone agreed with the sentiment.

Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s son, called the decision “simply insane” on Twitter. “Lebanon is officially an enemy state. By law, it is a criminal offence to fly an enemy flag,” he posted. No such law exists in the Israeli legal code.

Israel and Lebanon are officially in a state of war and do not have diplomatic relations.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower went dark at midnight (22:00 GMT on Wednesday) to mourn those who lost their lives. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to arrive in the shattered Lebanese capital on Thursday.

A man holds a sign reading "Solidarity with Beyrouth" and a candle on August 5, 2020, in Toulouse, during a gathering to pay tribute to the Lebanese people a day after a powerful explosion tore throug — A man holds a 'Solidarity with Beirut' sign and a candle in Toulouse, France, during a gathering to pay tribute to the Lebanese people. [Remy Gabalda/AFP]

Palestinians light candles to show solidarity with the Lebanese people following Tuesday''s blast in Beirut''s port area, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip August 5, 2020. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa — Palestinians light candles in solidarity with the Lebanese people, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]

A book of condolence for victims of Beirut blast, is displayed at Brussels city hall, on August 5, 2020, a day after a powerful explosion tore through Lebanon''s capital, resulting from the ignition of — A book of condolences for victims of the explosion in Beirut, at Brussels city hall. [Laurie Dieffembacq/Belga/AFP]

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK - AUGUST 05: Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation building is illuminated with the colours of the Lebanese flag as a sign of solidarity with the victims of the Beirut explosion, in — The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation building is illuminated with the colours of the Lebanese flag as a sign of solidarity with the victims of the Beirut explosion, in Ramallah, occupied West Bank. [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu]

A woman of the Lebanese community holds a candle during a vigil in memory of victims of the deadly blast in Beirut in front of Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. French President — A woman holds a candle during a vigil in memory of victims of the deadly explosion in Beirut in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris. [Michel Euler/AP Photo]

The video mapping is projected on the Azadi (Freedom) Monument in western Tehran, on August 5, 2020. A Lebanon flag projected on the Monument as a sign of unity between Iran and the Lebanon also a sym — The Lebanese flag projected on Azadi (Freedom) Monument in western Tehran as a symbol of the Iranian people's sympathy for the victims of the recent explosions in Beirut. [Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - AUGUST 5, 2020: Flowers and candles brought to the Lebanese Embassy to commemorate victims of the August 4 explosion in the port area of Beirut. A note reads "Dear friends! Our deepes — Flowers and candles brought to the Lebanese Embassy in Moscow to commemorate victims of the explosion in the port area of Beirut. A note reads: 'Dear friends! Our deepest condolences! God save you!' [Mikhail Japaridze/TASS via Getty Images]

epa08586728 Players of Corinthians hold a banner honoring victims of the Beirut explosion prior the Campeonato Paulista first leg match between Corinthians and Palmeiras at Itaquera stadium in Sao Pau — Players from the Brazilian team Corinthians hold a banner honouring victims of the Beirut explosion before the Campeonato Paulista first leg match between them and Palmeiras at Itaquera stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Fernando Bizerra/EPA]

epa08586373 People react at a vigil to mark victims of an explosion in the Lebanese city of Beirut in Kensington Gardens in London, Britain 05 August 2020. According to Lebanon''s Health Minister Hama — People attend a vigil in London's Kensington Gardens for the victims of the explosion in the Lebanese capital. [Neil Hall/EPA]