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‘Worst na nakita ko’: Pinay living in Lebanon recounts Beirut blasts

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/afp/08/04/6-beirut-blast.jpg"/><figcaption>A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of explosion at the port of Lebanon&#x27;s capital Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020. Stringer, AFP</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Like a scene from a disaster movie was how overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Robelita Sabado Gallardo described the twin explosions that shook Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday night.In an interview on ABS-CBN&#x27;s Teleradyo Wednesday, Gallardo said it was the worst thing to ever happen after living in the Middle Eastern nation for 20 years.&quot;Twenty years na ako dito at halos nakita ko na lahat. Ito &#x27;yung pinaka-worst na nakita ko in front me. Not in my wildest dream na mangyari ito,&quot; she said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/05/20/several-filipinos-among-thousands-injured-in-twin-beirut-blasts">2 Filipinos die in twin Beirut blasts: DFA</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/multimedia/slideshow/08/05/20/look-massive-damage-after-beirut-twin-explosion">LOOK: Massive damage after Beirut twin explosions</a></li></ul>Gallardo, a household service worker, said she was at her employer&#x27;s house when an explosion in Beirut&#x27;s port occurred past 6 p.m that sent a plume of smoke over the capital skyline. It was later followed by a larger blast that rocked their condominium building, a kilometer away from the port warehouses that stored a stockpile of highly explosive ammonium nitrate.&quot;Akala mo &#x27;yung nanonood ka ng sine na it&#x27;s happening in front of you . . . then makikita mo na nag-slow motion &#x27;yung pangyayari,&quot; she said.When they evacuated, she saw collapsed buildings as streets were covered in debris and hospitals swamped with the injured.For Gallardo, the picturesque Lebanese capital has transformed into a war zone.&quot;Beirut is a very, very nice place. It&#x27;s like a small haven. Maganda talaga siya. Mga tao rito, kung ikumpara mo sa ibang Middle East na mga bansa, open sila rito,&quot; she said when asked what attracted thousands of Filipinos to work in Lebanon.&quot;Para kang nasa Pilipinas. You can do whatever you want as long as wala kang inaapi. Suweldo dito ay dollars naman kaya ako nagtagal.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/08/05/20/those-responsible-for-beirut-catastrophe-will-pay-price-pm">Those responsible for Beirut &#x27;catastrophe&#x27; will &#x27;pay price&#x27;: PM</a></li></ul>Gallardo, who is raising 2 children with her Turkish husband in Lebanon, said she has yet to make a decision on whether to stay or leave the city.&quot;Parang ang hirap kasi. Sa totoo, for now, I don&#x27;t know what to do. I don&#x27;t know what to think kasi may mga anak ako na isaalang-alang dito,&quot; she said.The blast that tore through Lebanon killed more than 100 people and injured over 4,000 others.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday 2 Filipinos died from the incident while 8 were injured. Eleven seafarers and a household service worker also remained missing.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/05/20/several-filipinos-among-thousands-injured-in-twin-beirut-blasts">2 Filipinos die in twin Beirut blasts: DFA</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2T9lt5byMaU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Like a scene from a disaster movie was how Robelita Sabado Gallardo described the twin explosions that shook Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday night.

Like a scene from a disaster movie was how Robelita Sabado Gallardo described the twin explosions that shook Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday night.