Beirut explosion: Dua Lipa and Priyanka Chopra lead celebrity reactions to ‘devastating’ incident
100 people are known to have died after explosion in Lebanese capital
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Your support makes all the difference.Dua Lipa and Priyanka Chopra are among the stars to show support for the people of Beirut following a large explosion in the city.
More than 100 people are known to have died in the incident that rocked the capital of Lebanon on Tuesday (4 August), which left over 4,000 wounded.
Singer Halsey asked her fans how she could assist the cause on Tuesday night, tweeting: “My heart is aching looking at these photos in Beirut.
“I have read from a lot of people that petitions aren’t effective and donations can result in a dramatic exchange decrease. Can someone share with me direct information about how we can help most effectively and immediately?”
Many sent her links to the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as the Disaster Relief for Beirut Explosion fundraising page.
On Instagram Stories, Dua Lipa wrote: “This is absolutely devastating!!! What is happening in Beirut?!! Friends, please let me know your loved ones are safe!!!”
The “Don’t Start Now” singer also encouraged Lebanese citizens to donate blood, posting: “Please if you are able and healthy to donate blood please do! There are people in critical conditions!”
Bette Midler also shared her horror at the incident, reposting a widely shared video of the explosion to social media with the words: “Oh, dear God.”
Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra wrote: “This is awful. Absolutely devastating. Sending all my love and prayers to everyone affected by this tragedy.”
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It remains unclear what caused the largest blast, which appeared to have been triggered by a fire near a storage facility housing volatile chemicals. It sparked further fires, overturned cars and blew out thousands of windows and doors.
It was the most powerful explosion ever seen in the city, which was on the front lines of the 1975-1990 civil war and has endured conflicts with neighbouring Israel and periodic bombings and terror attacks.