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

The satellite captured a scene of destruction from 600km in orbit

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

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.

Emergency aid is loaded onto plane at Dubai airport on Wednesday to support Beirut after the port explosion. On Thursday, the UAE's leaders pledged millions more in in funding and tonnes of equipment for the relief effort. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid includes medical equipment to treat injured patients and protect medical staff. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid is loaded on a plane to Lebanon at Dubai airport to support Beirut after the explosion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid is loaded on a plane to Lebanon at Dubai airport to support Beirut after the explosion, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid is loaded on a plane to Lebanon at Dubai airport to support Beirut after the explosion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Staff from the WHO and Red Cross and Red Crescent sprung into action on Tuesday night as the death and injury toll in Beirut became clear.

The first flight will carry 40 tonnes, mostly bandages, syringes and other medical equipment. Food shipments are expected to follow.

Medical aid is loaded on to a truck at International Humanitarian City in Dubai. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

George Maina, warehouse manager for IFRC, pictured at Humanitarian City outside Dubai.

Staff worked quickly to prepare the shipment for a cargo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

Staff worked quickly to prepare the shipment for a cargo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

Staff worked quickly to prepare the shipment for a cargo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

WHO, Red Cross and Red Crescent societies donated the shipment.

Nevien Attalla, operations manager for WHO's Dubai hub, said the shipment had to double in size once the scale of the situation became clear.