Two Canadian citizens were among the victims of the explosion in Beirut earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed Friday.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to their families and friends as they grieve this tragedy,” he said in a statement.
READ MORE: Canada adds $25M more to Lebanon aid after deadly Beirut blast for $30M total
“Our thoughts remain with those Canadians injured or missing in Lebanon, and with Lebanese-Canadian communities worried about their loved ones, as the search continues.”
The prime minister did not identify those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The Aug. 4 explosion killed more than 175 people and levelled buildings near the Lebanese capital’s port.
At least 6,000 were injured and tens of thousands have been left homeless.
The blast, which was reportedly felt as far away as Cyprus, is believed to have been caused by the ignition of a stockpile of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in the port for years.
Lebanon’s prime minister and cabinet announced their resignation on Monday following a weekend of anti-government protests.
On Friday, the United Nations launched an appeal for US$565 million in donations to provide humanitarian assistance and support recovery efforts.
“The scale of the loss from the Beirut explosions is so vast, it is likely every single person in Lebanon has been touched by this terrible event,” Najat Rochdi, the UN Deputy Special Co-ordinator for the country, said in a statement.
Ottawa previously announced it would provide $30 million to the region, which includes a commitment to match Canadians’ donations up to $5 million.
The federal government is establishing a taskforce to help Canadians in Lebanon receive consular assistance. Lebanese citizens temporarily in Canada will be allowed to extend their trips if they can’t return home, Trudeau said.
Canada is also backing calls for an independent investigation into the cause of the explosion.
—With files from The Associated Press
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