A happy occasion took a turn for the absolute worst for 29-year-old Lebanese, Israa Seblani.
The capital of Lebanon, Beirut, suffered from a devastating explosion on Aug. 4, which killed at least 135 people and injured thousands.
Was filming wedding video when explosion hit
Seblani was outside Le Gray Hotel in the city, dressed in a long bridal gown, smiling and posing for the camera when the blast hit.
She was with her new husband, Ahmad Subeih, and they were planning to spend their first night as newlyweds, reported The Guardian.
The dramatic moment was captured on what was supposed to be their wedding video.
Here it is:
In the video, which was filmed by Mahmoud Nakib, Seblani was posing for the camera when a loud noise was heard and a powerful shockwave destroyed everything around her.
Here's a longer version of the footage that was uploaded on social media:
Unfortunate day for Lebanese bride,her big day destroyed with the whole Beirut city. This happy bride was posing for her wedding shoot just before the disastrous explosion at Beirut port which destroyed the city and shaken the whole world .
— All Pakistan Drama page (@Allpakdramapage) August 5, 2020
Video courtesy: Mahmoud Nakib pic.twitter.com/5XKV1B3Opx
Towards the end of the video, Seblani and her husband, Subeih, were seen running away from the scene with those around them.
BBC reported that the impact of the explosion was so powerful that it was equivalent to a 3.3-magnitude earthquake.
It could also be felt about 160km away in Cyprus.
According to Reuters, Seblani, who is a doctor working in the U.S., had helped to check on some injured people nearby before fleeing to safety.
Still struggling to process what happened
A day after the explosion on Wednesday (Aug. 5), the newlyweds revisited the hotel area.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, they admitted that they were still struggling to process what happened.
Seblani said:
"I was so happy like all other girls, I am getting married.
My parents are going to be happy seeing me in a white dress, I will be looking like a princess."
She had arrived in Beirut three weeks earlier to prepare for her wedding.
When the explosion occurred, she explained, "I was shocked, I was wondering what happened— am I going to die? How am I going to die?"
Meanwhile, Subeih told reporters:
"It was extremely sad, it was not describable— the devastation and the sound of the explosion.
We are still in shock... I have never heard anything similar to the sound of this explosion."
Their hotel room was damaged
Subeih explained that they had entered the damaged hotel to retrieve their belongings and passports.
However, he said that the scene in the hotel room was "unbelievable".
Seblani added:
"I feel so sad about what happened to other people, about what happened to Lebanon.
When I woke up and saw the damage that happened to Beirut, the one thing I said was Alhamdulillah (thank God), we are still alive."
You can watch the full interview here:
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Top images courtesy of Mahmoud Nakib via All Pakistan Drama Page's Twitter.
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