The Lebanese ambassador to the UAE has spoken of being thrown several feet by the huge blast that rocked Beirut, which left his house “totally damaged”.
Fouad Chehab Dandan was on holiday in the city when the explosion took place on Tuesday.
"I was near the explosion, because my house is in Beirut. It is close to the port," he told The National.
“I was at home with my family. We were sitting outside by the windows. The explosion was so hard it pushed us all inside.”
His son's friend sustained minor injuries. Everyone else was unharmed.
“The glass cut his hand. We took him to the hospital and he was OK. He had some stitches and he is fine. The damage is all material.”
Mr Dandan said he had never experienced anything like the blast, which felt like a “small nuclear bomb”.
“We have experienced a number of wars in Beirut but I have never experienced such a massive explosion. We have experienced similar things during the years of war," he said.
“We have seen car bombings and things like this, but this kind of explosion was more like a small nuclear bomb. It felt like it. Even in Cyprus they felt it, which is across the sea.”
He said he was grateful for the support offered by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Mr Dandan said officials from the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation called to express their sympathies, and members of the Lebanese community in the UAE had been in touch to ask how they could help.
“We really appreciate it,” said Mr Dandan.
“I am trying now to see what kind of organisations are going to help so they can channel their support through these organisations.”
