Fleeing for their lives

Dozens die in new wave of airstrikes | PM warns Brit nationals to leave now

- ANDY LINES and LIZZY BUCHAN

Lebanon TENS of thousands of people fled southern yesterday after another deadly barrage of Israeli missiles.

Dozens were killed in overnight raids, including two UN staff, with 564 losing their lives over two days.

Last night, the UK government began preparations for a mass evacuation of Brits in Lebanon.

Speaking on a flight to the UN General Assembly in New York, PM Keir Starmer said: "The most important message from me this evening is to British nationals in Lebanon, to leave immediately." He said No10 is ramping up contingency plans, adding: "More broadly, I am worried about the situation and I think we need to be clear we need de-escalation, we need a ceasefire, we need to pull back from the brink." He spoke after highways were gridlocked in southern Lebanon, including in Damour, 20km south of Beirut, as families headed north.

Michael Adams, the country director for Care International UK in Lebanon, said: "All the roads leading to Beirut from the south and Beqaa Valley are flooded with people attempting to flee the bombardment." Some fleeing residents had to sleep at a promenade in Sidon.

Smoke billowed near the village of Al-Mahmoudiye after a strike.

Buildings were also flattened in the southern village of Akbieh.