Beirut airport crowded as travelers seek to 'flee before situation worsens'

BEIRUT — The Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA) was relatively crowded on Thursday as many travelers sought to "flee before the situation worsens," according to our journalist currently in the airport.

Israel has been carrying intensive airstrikes in Lebanon since Monday, killing more than 600 people and displacing tens of thousands.

Our journalist reports that "many are swarming into the Middle East Airline (MEA) office to register their names on the waiting list."

One of the MEA employees at the airport told L'Orient Today that "many people from southern Lebanon are booking flights but are not able to reach the airport due to the heavy bombardment." He spoke anonymously, claiming MEA staff are currently not allowed to speak to the media.

"We give their seats to those on the waiting list," he said.

Our journalist adds that many "systems at the airport are not working, employees are stating that their systems are facing technical damages."

Moreover, queues are forming, and fights are breaking out between airport employees and passengers due to overcrowding.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced on Thursday that Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Bekaa and Beirut's southern suburbs have displaced over 70,100 people who have sought refuge in displaced shelters. Strikes since Monday have also killed over 600 people, most civilians, and injured almost 2,000 others.

Additional reporting by Ghadir Hamadi.