Dog sparks hope in Beirut of possible miracle survivor under rubble
A dog alerted Chilean rescuers to a possible sign of life near downtown Beirut and the search has provided hope to people in the city one month after the deadly explosion.
On Thursday morning, a dog working with a Chilean rescue team alerted them that there could be someone beneath debris in the Gemmayzeh neighborhood of Beirut, the local news outlet The Daily Star reported.
The area is a center of Beirut’s famous nightlife and not far from the scene of the Aug. 4 explosion. Images of the scene on social media showed a large pile of rubble next to a pizzeria.
The rescuers began a search after the dog’s signal, but on Thursday night, the army temporarily halted the operation, saying parts of the building could fall and kill rescue workers. They resumed work later that evening after two cranes helped secure the area, the Lebanese news site Naharnet reported.
The rescue effort has received considerable attention in Lebanon. Crowds screamed, “Bring the crane now!” after the army paused the search, according to The Daily Star. The Arabic-language hashtag “pulse of Beirut” is trending on Twitter. This refers to people thinking a person could still be alive underneath the destroyed building. Videos of the dog working with the Chilean team have been shared widely on social media.
