George S. Madi, a successful Lebanese-Gambian businessman and chairman managing director of Shyben A Madi & Sons Ltd, was among thousands of people killed following huge blast in Beirut, capital of Lebanon on Tuesday.

Mr Madi and his family established a business empire in The Gambia running for three decades, dealing in cars and food.

George, 77, was also the Honorary Consul General of Japan in The Gambia.

A statement from the family said “George S. Madi truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures by reaching out to the Gambian and Lebanese communities at large. He was religious and active in religious events.”

For now, Mohammed Abbas, an Africell staff, was another lost.

Mr Abbas had contracted the novel coronavirus in The Gambia but was taken to Lebanon to seek treatment.

Standard said, Mr Abbas was admitted at a hospital that lost electricity following the explosion while dozens of Coronavirus patients patients were on oxygen support machine.

A statement from Africell yesterday said Mr Abbas joined the GSM giants in 2012. “He was a hardworking person, dedicated to his work. He had a great sense of humour and always seemed happy and full of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in these difficult and trying times,” it said.

Source___Standard Newspaper