PARIS — Lebanese designers were left cleaning up the debris on Wednesday after a major factory blast in Beirut ‘s port sending a blast wave through the city, killing 100 people and wounding nearly 4,000, news reports claim.
Maison Rabih Kayrouz shared video footage of its headquarters’ Instagram Accounts, housed in the exquisite 19th-century Dagher Palace in Beirut’s Gemmayze neighborhood, reduced by the explosion to ruins.
Just one mannequin in a white dress is left standing in place, covered with rubble and glass fragments, as sirens wailing outside can be heard.
A company spokesperson said Kayrouz and his staff were all healthy. During last year’s 20th anniversary of his company, the designer moves into the new location, which incorporates his atelier, couture shop, and ready-to – wear boutique.
The blast has also destroyed the Elie Saab house in Beirut’s Central District, but the designer and his staff survived unscathed, a company spokeswoman said. As it occurred, everybody was at the office, “she said of the explosion, which tore through the district at around 6 p.m. Tuesday local time.
Zuhair Murad is another designer whose offices were destroyed by the explosion, blamed by officials on a stockpile of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate held at the port. The website of Vogue Arabia posted an picture of the hotel, also situated in the district of Gemmayzeh, an city popular for its trendy bars and restaurants.
Foot video reveals what appears to be the Achrafieh site of the ABC Mall — home to labels such as Emporio Armani, Banana Republic, Benefit, Hugo Boss, Dior, Givenchy, Maje, Massimo Dutti, H&M and Tommy Hilfiger — with a stream of blood evident on the pavement.
