The Beirut Fire Brigade announced the deaths of 9 people due to suffocation and two injuries resulting from a fire inside the Pizza Secret restaurant in the Ghannaja building - Bashara Khoury. They indicated that their team managed to extinguish the fire. It was noted that "the gas leak led to an explosion in the restaurant, resulting in casualties."
Minister of Interior Bassam Mawlawi stated after arriving at the scene that "forensic evidence will investigate the incident, and the judiciary will definitely reveal the responsible party. Initial information indicated 8 casualties, and confirmation is underway for a ninth victim."
Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar also visited the site of the incident, emphasizing the need to expedite the investigation to uncover the backgrounds of the fire and those at fault. He expressed confidence in the judiciary to uncover the truth of what happened. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, commending "the work of the Beirut Fire Brigade, who responded swiftly after the incident," thanking them for "their efforts that must be appreciated in the most difficult circumstances the country is going through." Nassar concluded by describing the incident as "tragic," reiterating the need to strictly adhere to public safety regulations.
Young Imad Ahmad Shaqir from Mays al-Jabal lost his life in the fire that broke out at one of the restaurants in the Bashara Khoury area. It's noteworthy that the Ghannaja building houses several official administrations, particularly the Revenue Directorate of the Ministry of Finance and the National Authority for the Litani River.
