The entrance of the AUBMC. (Credit: Photo aubmc.org)
The American University of Beirut (AUB) released a statement strongly denouncing the "rumors and conspiracy theories about the types of communication systems AUB has in place, attempting to link AUB to this tragic event," referencing the explosion of Hezbollah members' pagers that has shaken Lebanon on Tuesday around 3:00 p.m.
"Our paging system infrastructure was upgraded in April 2024. The Go-Live for switching to the new system took place on Aug. 29, 2024. The scope of this upgrade was to enhance emergency and code communications, as several devices and systems had become obsolete," clarified the AUB.
According to the Health Ministry's latest tolls, the explosion of pagers resulted in 9 deaths and over 3,000 injuries. The American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) "has admitted more than 160 seriously injured people in the past three hours," added AUB's communications office.
"Rather than waste time spreading baseless rumors, we urge all to rally to support AUBMC and the heroic but overwhelmed medical system," the statement concluded.
The issued statement follows the circulation of at least one voice on messaging networks, in which a woman claimed her father, a doctor, had told her that the AUBMC administration asked all staff to turn in their pagers for maintenance 10 days earlier.