Hero Lebanese firefighter Sahar Fares buried after fatal Beirut blast

Firefighter Sahar Fares was one of the first responders to reach a blaze inside the Port of Beirut on Tuesday which moments later was the site of a massive explosion that killed over 135 people and damaged half of the Lebanese capital.

The 25-year-old was among the first fatalities to be named, and was honoured with a public funeral in her hometown Qaa on Thursday.

Anger and sadness were expressed at the news of her premature death in Tuesday's blast. Video footage showed friends and family weeping over the coffin of the young Beirut Fire Brigade paramedic.

"To everyone asking 'Why they are shaking the coffin' - Sahar was a bride to be and is pronounced a martyr, they are celebrating and honouring her commitment," said Lebanese journalist, Luna Safwan.

Her fiance was present as Fares was laid to rest, embracing her coffin and holding a piece of her clothing in his hand, as reported by Lebanese broadcast station MTV.

Gilbert Karaan, who was due to marry Fares next year, wrote a declaration of his love for her on his Instagram account: "I love you, and I will keep loving you until the day I get to join you and we continue our journey."

The rest of the firefighter team that rushed with Fares to the scene of the blaze are also missing, said the city's governor Marwan Abboud.

"We don't know," he said, when asked if the blaze caused the subsequent blast.

"There was a fire, the [firefighters] came to put it out, then the explosion happened and they went missing. We are looking for them."

Before the blast, three firefighters were pictured trying to force their way into the blazing warehouse at the port of Beirut where the fire started were named as Jo Noon, Methal Hawwa and Najib Hitti by MailOnline.

— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 6, 2020" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Know her name. This is Sahar Fares. She was a Lebanese female firefighter. 25 years old. She was one of the first responders at #Beirut port. She died along with her colleagues trying to extinguish the fire. Her burial is today. RIP Sahar 💔 pic.twitter.com/MUv82QGQyb — Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 6, 2020

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected