BEIRUT — A retired man attempted to set himself on fire Thursday in a bank in Saida, South Lebanon, reports the state-run National News Agency.
Here’s what we know:
• The man stated that he attempted to set himself on fire after his salary of LL5 million lost much of its value as the lira depreciated against the US dollar. Lebanon’s national currency has lost over 90 percent of its value since the onset of the financial crisis.
• A bank employee managed to prevent the man from setting himself on fire and security forces quickly arrived at the scene, the NNA reported.
• Public suicide attempts have been on the rise as the economic situation worsens. Last month, a man tried to set himself on fire near a gas station in Zahle, in the Bekaa, but was stopped by passers-by.