This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
On August 4, 2020, a catastrophic explosion shook Beirut, Lebanon, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. The blast, which was felt as far as 9 kilometers away, was the equivalent of a 3.3-magnitude earthquake.
According to officials, the explosion was caused by the ignition of a massive depot of ammonium nitrate at Beirut's port. The substance, an agricultural fertilizer, had been stored in a portside warehouse for years.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab described the disaster as 'a disaster in every sense of the word.' The explosion killed over 100 people and injured over 4,000, with many more still trapped under the rubble.
US President Donald Trump initially suggested that the explosion may have been caused by a 'bomb of some kind,' but later clarified that he had no evidence to support this claim.
Lebanese officials have denied any suggestion of a deliberate attack, and have vowed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
As the country struggles to come to terms with the devastating loss of life and property, international aid has begun to pour in. The US, France, Qatar, Iran, and even Lebanon's arch foe Israel have offered to send assistance to the beleaguered nation.
