The Explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
August 4, 2020
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When: August 4, 2020
Multiple sources report that a series of massive explosions occurred in a warehouse at the Port of Beirut on Tuesday, August 4, around 6:00 PM local time. The confirmed casualty count from the explosion includes at least 203 killed and 6,500 injured. Another 100 others went missing. At least 6,200 buildings in the city were damaged by the blast and around 300,000 people were temporarily without homes. On Friday, August 7, authorities arrested the Beirut Port Director and the former Director General of Customs as part of the ongoing investigation into the explosion. Authorities provided impacted civilians with food, water, and shelter and removed debris from the greater area. Sixteen Port of Beirut employees were detained as part of the ongoing investigation over the cause of the explosion.
A renewable two-week state of emergency was previously declared in Beirut, which was proclaimed a disaster zone, following the two explosions. The military was given temporary control of security forces in the city. The Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) sustained moderate damage in the explosion; however, flights continued to operate as scheduled.
The powerful explosion and the resulting shockwave caused widespread damage across the area, including damage to buildings located as many as six miles away from the port area. A portion of the large wheat grain silo at the port was completely destroyed and collapsed, while the nearby Electricite du Liban (EDL) building was also damaged, and at least one ship that was docked at the port may have also been damaged, among countless other structures in the surrounding area that were damaged. The explosion was also believed to have temporarily disrupted internet services across Beirut and elsewhere around Lebanon. In addition, disruptions to power supply were reported in multiple locations across Beirut. The disruptions to power supply and internet services reportedly hampered search and rescue efforts, as well as medical treatment in some hospitals. Officials asked residents in the city to wear a facial covering due to concerns over the possibility of toxic gases released following the blast.
Government officials cited by media sources have indicated the cause of the initial explosion involved a fire and the mishandling of fireworks inside a warehouse, while the second more powerful explosion most likely involved an incident at a nearby depot containing highly explosive materials, including an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, both of which were located near the Port Silos building at the port. The situation prompted an enormous emergency response across a large area around the port, including assistance from the Red Cross and the Lebanese Army, among other agencies. Residual disruptions are possible in the area.
Updated December 14, 2020 at 8:39 PM.
Info from NC4, an independent global crisis reporting agency.
This Safety Check was turned on based on the Facebook activity of people in the affected area.