- BERIUT: Heavy rain and strong winds seriously damaged four small training planes parked on the tarmac of Beirut’s international airport Saturday, authorities said.
The storm, which hit Lebanon late Friday with winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, overturned some of the training aircraft and rammed others into a nearby electricity pole.
It caused one flight from Bahrain was diverted to Syria, a security official said.
The storm also battered neighboring Syria’s coast, and forced the closure of the Mediterranean sea port of Tartous, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
SANA said waves reached a height of up to 7 meters, and Tartous port authorities have warned ships to take necessary precautions and asked small boasts to dock.
The storm comes after a severe drought in Lebanon during which Muslims and Christians held special prayers for rain.