194 Hongkongers stranded in Middle East safe as attacks escalate
‘You are watching the missiles explode right above you, along with the sound,’ says Martin Yeung, a solicitor caught in Dubai
Hong Kong authorities have received 194 inquiries from residents stranded in the Middle East amid a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, which forced flight cancellations and left some seeking refuge in local hotels.
The Immigration Department confirmed to the South China Morning Post that all residents who inquired about the situation and flight arrangements were in safe locations as of 5pm on Sunday.
It said authorities had been coordinating with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and Chinese embassies across Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan to understand the latest situation.
“The Immigration Department will continue to maintain contact with the Hong Kong residents who made inquiries, providing appropriate advice and feasible assistance regarding their itineraries and flight information,” the department said.
As the US and Israeli attacks entered a second day, Iran confirmed the death of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the air strikes.
Tehran also launched counterattacks across Israel and several Gulf states, causing a large-scale cancellation of flights in and out of the Middle East.