Victoria resident Waffa Jennings has family in Beirut, about 1.5 KMS from where a fatal explosion occured, destroying homes, killing 135 people, and injuring thusands more..
She was was finally able to speak to an uncle Wednesday night, learning he was at home when it happened, his house was destroyed, and a cousin is seriously injured.
She says they are dealing with so much -- and it's very surreal:
" They are just trying to make sense of it all. I mean they're still trying to deal with COVID, and now to have this happen to them ... they just don't understand. Lots of unanswered questions, trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from. There's people just wandering they said all over the streets just bewildered, and not knowing where to go or what to do."
Jenning's cousin had to be taken to a hospital in another town as theirs was destroyed.
" The hospital right in Beirut was destroyed, and so they ended up having to walk and get rides to another town that had some medical aid."
She says her uncle described thousands and thousands of people just sitting amongst the rubble of their destroyed homes and condominiums, some wandering dewildered in the streets trying to seek help and food. But many grocery stores are gone, or have empty shelves.
She says it's hard being so far away, not being able to help.