Ammonium nitrate explosion disaster in Beirut. Following decades of government mismanagement and corruption at Beirut’s port, on August 4, 2020, one of the largest non‑nuclear explosions in history pulverized the port and damaged over half the city.
Reminder Series - August
I’ve worked on the ammonium nitrate explosion disaster in Beirut. Following decades of government mismanagement and corruption at Beirut’s port, on August 4, 2020, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history pulverized the port and damaged over half the city. The explosion resulted from the detonation of tonnes of ammonium nitrate. Explosion killed 218 people. It wounded 7,000 people, of whom at least 150 acquired a physical disability; caused untold psychological harm; and damaged 77,000 apartments, displacing over 300,000 people. At least three children between the ages of 2 and 15 lost their lives. Thirty-one children required hospitalization, 1,000 children were injured, and 80,000 children were left without a home. The explosion affected 163 public and private schools and rendered half of Beirut’s healthcare centers nonfunctional.