The two large explosions in the Beirut seaport district on Aug.4 was caused by 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate, killing at least 130 and wounding 4,000. An estimated 300,000 people have been displaced, while hundreds are being reported as missing. From photographs it seems half the port, one of the busiest in the Mediterranean was destroyed. The shockwave destroyed buildings and blew out windows across a large area. Pictures could be seen of a large hospital with all its windows blown out, disastrously affecting patient rooms. A two-week state of emergency has been announced in the Lebanese capital, which was declared a disaster zone. The explosion was so powerful it was heard in Cyprus, 240 km away. Jordan’s seismic research center registered a magnitude of 3.3.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the blast had been caused by improper storage of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate. According to reports citing various officials, ammonium nitrate, which is used for both explosives and for fertilizer, had been confiscated by customs in 2015 and stored ever since in a warehouse in the port. “What happened today will not pass without accountability,” said Diab. “Those responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price.”
The incident will obviously have huge political and economic fallout in Lebanon, which is already suffering an economic crisis, as well as the pandemic. Except for accusations of criminal negligence, foul play has not been suggested so far.
Secretary-General of the Lebanese Kataeb Party Nazar Najarian was killed in the explosion; the Kataeb Party is the current name for the old Lebanese Phalange party, so this could have consequences.
