Beirut Blasts: Eiffel Tower switches off lights in tribute to victims

As Beirut residents continue to pick up the pieces following the devastating blasts which killed over 135 people and injured thousands, support is pouring in from across the world. Apart from financial assistance and logistical support, tributes for those affected by the explosions in the Lebanese capital continue to flow.

A day after Pyramids in Giza in Egypt, Burj Khalifa in Dubai and other monuments were lit up displaying Lebanon’s flag, the Eiffel Tower on Thursday switched off its lights in a symbolic gesture. A candlelight vigil was also organised in Paris outside the Sacre Coeur basilica.

Apart from this, Paris also pledged to provide an emergency aid of 100,000 euros, about $118,861, to Beirut, city mayor Anne Hidalgo said.

The colossal blasts, believed to have been triggered by thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate, wounded over 5000 people in the city. According to an estimate nearly 300,000 people may have been left homeless as scores of buildings were destroyed completely by the blasts.