An image from UAE's KhalifaSat, 600km in orbit, shows Beirut port after a blast levelled the entire district. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
An image from UAE's KhalifaSat, 600km in orbit, shows Beirut port after a blast levelled the entire district. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
An image from UAE's KhalifaSat, 600km in orbit, shows Beirut port after a blast levelled the entire district. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
An image from UAE's KhalifaSat, 600km in orbit, shows Beirut port after a blast levelled the entire district. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Beirut blast: UAE's KhalifaSat shows images from space of before and after port was levelled


  • English
  • Arabic

A UAE satellite captured the devastation to the Beirut port area from 600km in orbit.

KhalifaSat showed images of before and after Tuesday's devastating blast, which left at least 145 dead, 5,000 injured and levelled much of the Lebanese capital.

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai shared the image on Twitter and sent its best wishes to Beirutis struggling to overcome the aftermath.

"We hope that our brothers and sisters in Lebanon overcome these difficult times," the space agency wrote.

On Thursday, thousands gathered as France's president Emmanuel Macron toured the badly damaged capital, reflecting the historic ties between the two nations.

"Lebanon is not alone," Mr Macron said on Twitter, before he landed and was received by President Michel Aoun.

Most shops remained closed and roads were blocked by smashed cars, cement slabs and fallen trees.

The blast's shock wave left barely a window in the city unbroken, though thousands helped to clear glass from the streets on Thursday in an act of solidarity.

Aircraft carrying emergency aid from the US and France are expected to arrive in Lebanon on Thursday, while the UAE's leaders sent aid worth tens of millions of dirhams to hospitals in the capital.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now