Beirut explosion: 'Orient Queen' cruise liner capsizes after blast

The Orient Queen cruise ship was capsized by the ferocity of the Beirut explosions. AFP

The Orient Queen cruise ship capsized at her berth in Beirut following Lebanon's deadly explosion on Tuesday.

One of the ship's crew members was killed in the blast and another is reported missing.

Several other crew members are in hospitals across the city, said the ship's operator Abou Merhi Cruises, who called the incident a tragedy.

The 120-metre long vessel capsized overnight in Beirut. Tuesday's explosion caused damage to the berth that led to the ship taking on too much water.

Extensive damage was also reported at the head office of Abou Merhi Cruises, in the Awwal Bliss area of Beirut.

The Orient Queen had capacity for up to 300 passengers. At the time of the blast, no travellers were on board because summer cruising operations had been cancelled due to the coroanivurs pandemic.

The five-star cruise liner typically sails from Beirut Port to five destinations in Europe and Asia during summer. Had normal operations been in place, it’s likely that the cruise liner would have been at sea at the time of the explosion.

“It’s a sad, sad day for all of us,” said the cruise operator on social media. “Abou Merhi Cruises has lost a precious soul in the tragedy that took place at the port of Beirut. Heilemariam Reta (Hailey) from Ethiopia.”

"Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of Mustafa Airout from Syria who was at the port and is still missing," continued the post.

A representative of the cruise operator said Mr Airout had last been seen "very close to the explosion".

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  A woman stands inside a damaged restaurant. AP Photo

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  People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA

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  Workers are pictured at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA

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  A man sleeps near a damaged car near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. REUTERS

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  Workers line at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA

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  French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA

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  People and employees attend a mass over the victims who were killed in the blast, at the Al-Roum hospital at Ashrafieh area in Beirut. EPA

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  A view of the port of Beirut on January 25, 2020, left, and on August 5, 2020, a day after the explosion. AFP

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  Bride Israa Seblani poses for a picture in the same place where she was taking her wedding photos at the moment of the explosion. Reuters

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  People stand with their belongings as they leave their damaged homes. Reuters

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  A Lebanese man shows injuries on his back after the massive explosion in Beirut. EPA

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  Men are seen sitting inside a damaged home, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

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  A pedestrian takes photos of a badly damaged building in Beirut. Bloomberg

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  Lebanese Druze clerics check damaged cars. AP Photo

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  A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by the explosion. AP Photo

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  People walk with their belongings in the area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA

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  The curtains in the rooms of the Le Gray hotel in the Lebanese capital Beirut swaying in the wind. AFP

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  A view of a damaged Fransa Bank. EPA

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  People check damaged vehicles. EPA

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  Volunteers clean the streets amid the wreckage. Reuters

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  People carry belongings after evacuating their damaged housing units at area of Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh. EPA

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  A destroyed Bank Audi SAL branch stands in Beirut. Bloomberg

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  A worker wearing a protective face mask stands at the entrance to a destroyed Fransabank SAL branch in Beirut. Bloomberg

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  Volunteers carry brooms as they walk to clean the streets. Reuters

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  A woman sits in front of a damaged building. EPA

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  A general view of the Beirut port area after the massive explosion. EPA

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  An aerial view shows the massive damage done to the Electricity of Lebanon building. AFP

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  A view of the damaged building of the Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. EPA

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  Volunteers gather aid supplies to be distributed for those affected by Tuesday's blast. Reuters

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  Lebanese men clears rubble, one day after the explosion at the Beirut Port, in the Gemayzeh area. EPA

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  Lebanese youth salvage a velvet sofa from a destroyed apartment in the Gemayzeh area of Beirut. EPA

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  Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP

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  An injured Lebanese shop owner sits at her desk selling her wares. EPA