S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 The Brazilian administration issued a statement this Tuesday afternoon (4) extending its sympathy to the people and government of Lebanon over the people killed and wounded in a blast at the Port of Beirut. Lebanon\u2019s minister of Health Hamad Hassan said at least 73 people died and 3,700 were injured.<\/p>\n
Brazil\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is monitoring the developments closely, and that it is standing by to provide consular assistance if needed. It noted, however, that so far there have been no reports of Brazilian citizens killed or seriously injured. \u201cThe Ministry will keep track of the situation by means of the Embassy of Brazil in Beirut, in tandem with the Consular Assistance Division in Bras\u00edlia,\u201d it said, in addition to making telephone numbers<\/a>\u00a0available for information.<\/p>\n Local and international media reported that the blast was felt 200 km away and may have been caused by a fire at a site where explosives had been stored. Prime minister Hassan Diab (pictured<\/em>) declared a national day of mourning, and president Michel Aoun summoned an urgent Higher Defense Council meeting.<\/p>\n Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\n