Swiss offer help to Lebanon after deadly blast in Beirut
Switzerland has sent its condolences to the government of Lebanon following an explosion in the capital Beirut on Tuesday, which killed at least 100 people.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/urs
Español
es
Suiza ofrece ayuda a Líbano tras explosión en Beirut
President Simonetta Sommaruga said Switzerland and Lebanon stood “close to each other”. She expressed her deepest sympathy to the Lebanese people and the authorities, “but above all to the injured and the families of the victims”.
In a similar vein, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis offered Swiss assistance.
More than 4,000 people, including the Swiss ambassador to Lebanon and local embassy employees, were injured in the blast, which reportedly began with an explosion at the port of Beirut.
The ambassador was admitted to hospital but returned to work on Wednesday, according to the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The foreign ministry said it had no information about more Swiss victims. But the buildings of the Swiss embassy and the residence of the ambassador to Beirut were badly damaged by the explosion.
The Lebanese president, Michel Aoun, said the government would declare a two-week state of emergency.
He said more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored unsafely in a warehouse for several years.
More
More
Switzerland-Lebanon: what they have in common
This content was published on
swissinfo.ch asks the current Swiss ambassador in Beirut to explain why that is and why the Alpine nation is so popular in Lebanon.
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
This content was published on
Hollywood star Pamela Anderson will be honoured at the Zurich Film Festival for her career and role in the film The Last Showgirl.
Switzerland to host Ukraine mine action conference in October
This content was published on
Together with Ukraine, Switzerland is organising the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC2024) in Lausanne on October 17 and 18.
Switzerland revises pension expenditure downwards by billions
This content was published on
The Swiss government has corrected downwards the projected expenditure on old-age and survivor insurance in 2033 by CHF2.5 billion ($2.66 billion).
Excess mortality rate post-Covid could persist until 2033
This content was published on
According to a report by reinsurer Swiss Re, many countries are still experiencing excess mortality following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Swiss Army ends clean-up operation in storm-hit Maggia Valley
This content was published on
The Swiss Armed Forces completed 76 flight hours during the clean-up operation following the storm in the Maggia Valley in Ticino at the end of June.
Swiss cruise ship stranded on Danube River after heavy rains
This content was published on
Passengers on a Swiss river-cruise ship stranded on the Danube following heavy rainfall are still unable to disembark in Vienna due to flooding.
Golden eagles get better at flying over time, say Swiss researchers
This content was published on
Golden eagles perfect their flight as they age and learn to make better use of air currents, says a new study co-produced by Swiss researchers.
This content was published on
Public libraries in Switzerland recorded 46.3 million admissions last year, 7.4 million more than in 2022, says the Federal Statistical Office.
Swiss conservative party seeks referendum against Eurovision contest
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Democratic Union is launching a referendum to prevent the Eurovision Song Contest from taking place in Basel next year.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss president calls for patience on Syrian refugees in Lebanon
This content was published on
“The situation has evolved; but I don’t know if we can say that the war in Syria is over,” Berset said in Beirut, referring to recent diplomatic and military shifts in Lebanon’s neighbour, where civil war has raged since 2011. “But of course, the question of what will happen to these people [Syrian refugees in…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.