[국제]Lebanon pager explosion death toll rises to 12

The death toll from the simultaneous bombings of pagers in Lebanon has risen to 12, AFP reported on the 18th (local time).

Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abyad told a news conference that 12 people, including two children, were killed and 2,750 to 2,800 people were injured in the blast the previous day.

This is an increase of three deaths from the nine previously announced by Lebanese authorities.

According to Minister Abyad, the injured were rushed to hospitals across the country within about 30 minutes after the blast.

About 300 people are in critical condition, some with facial injuries or brain hemorrhages.

Of the total cases, around 1,850 were reported in the Lebanese capital Beirut and its suburbs, around 750 in southern Lebanon and around 150 in the eastern Bekaa Valley, Abyad added.

Hezbollah’s military facilities are concentrated in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. local time on the 17th, thousands of pagers, mainly used by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah as a means of communication, exploded simultaneously throughout Lebanon.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese government and Iran, which supports Hezbollah, have accused Israel of being behind the bombing, a charge Israel has neither confirmed nor denied.

YTN Shin Woong-jin (ujshin@ytn.co.kr)

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