Saint John Business Owner Hears Beirut Explosion Live
SAINT JOHN- A Saint John restaurant owner originally from Lebanon heard the Beirut explosion in real-time.
Alex Haram of Let’s Hummus said his wife was speaking to her sister when it happened.
“It was on speaker and we heard almost all the screaming and the glass breaking. We heard a loud explosion and then we lost connection,” Haram said.
Haram said his wife was able to reach her family later and everyone is safe.
“It was a little bit scary for us. My wife was screaming and panicking in the house until we reached my mother-in-law and started getting the information,” Haram said.
He knows people who were killed including close family friends.
Haram said he stayed up until 4 a.m. following the news from Beirut and getting in touch with friends and family there.
“They’re scared. Everyone has a loss whether it’s a life loss whether it’s an injury, a house loss, a car loss. Everyone has a loss in this situation,” Haram said.
Out of concern for people in his home country, Haram created a Gofundme page, Help Beirut.
“We are raising money to help save our people in Beirut who have lost their homes, family and loved ones,” he writes on the page requesting support.
Haram moved to Montreal from Lebanon as a toddler and his family moved to Saint John in 2017.
Harran owns Let’s Hummus on Water Street and the Lebanese Baker on Main Street north.
Tamara Steele is a reporter with Country 94/97.3 The Wave, Huddle content partners.