The Lebanese Red Cross reported this Tuesday that two of its employees were injured after detonating a landmine in the town of Zautar al Sharqiya, in the Nabatiye governorate. The explosion also caused considerable damage to an ambulance belonging to the humanitarian organization.
"An ambulance of the Lebanese Red Cross was hit by the explosion of a landmine, resulting in two paramedics being injured and severe damage to the ambulance," the Lebanese Red Cross indicated in a statement disseminated on its social media.
The incident occurred when the rescue team was participating in the search for a missing person in the area. The entity specified that, before starting the operation, they coordinated with the competent authorities to obtain "road safety guarantees" in Zautar al Sharqiya.
"The Lebanese Red Cross is working in coordination with the Engineers Regiment of the Lebanese Army and the competent authorities to secure the area, where mines and unexploded ordnance have been detected, in order to allow safe access for paramedics and their evacuation," it concluded.