At least 50 people were killed and thousands injured in a massive explosion at the port in Beirut. Here’s what we know so far.
What happened in Beirut?
A giant explosion at a warehouse in the port sent a shock wave through downtown Beirut at about 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Videos of the blast posted on social media showed smoke billowing from the warehouse on the waterfront before a massive explosion produced a dome-shaped cloud that engulfed that section of the city center. The force of the blast did tremendous damage to the surrounding neighborhoods and nearby buildings, tearing off balconies and shattering windows. It blanketed the city in debris and ash for miles around.
What caused the explosion in Beirut?
Authorities say the blast occurred when a fire at a warehouse on the city’s waterfront ignited a cache of explosive ammonium nitrate that was being stored inside. It was unclear why the chemical was being kept there.
What is ammonium nitrate?
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound most commonly used in fertilizers. It is also used to make explosives and was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
The scene of the explosion in Beirut on Tuesday.
Photo: Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesWho is responsible?
The Lebanese government is now facing questions about why the explosive chemicals were stored at the port. Lebanese officials haven’t said what caused the fire but have said it wasn’t an attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the fire or the explosion.
President Trump, however, on Tuesday evening called it a “terrible attack” and said U.S. military leaders believe the explosion was caused by “a bomb of some kind.”
What is the situation in Lebanon right now?
Lebanon’s already fragile economy has deteriorated rapidly amid lockdowns imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The value of the country’s currency has plummeted in recent months, and its overtaxed power system has plunged the capital of Beirut into darkness for hours at a time. The economy is expected to contract by 12% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The explosion comes at a time of escalating tension between Hezbollah and Israel. Israel’s military said last week that it exchanged gunfire with Hezbollah militants. On Monday, Israel said it thwarted an attack from an unidentified militant cell in Syria. Israel said it had no involvement in the explosion and has offered humanitarian assistance through diplomatic channels.
How has the coronavirus pandemic affected the country?
Lebanon’s health-care system has been strained by a rising number of coronavirus cases. On Tuesday, 177 new cases were reported. Many of Beirut’s hospitals were quickly overwhelmed after the blast, owing to the country’s poor infrastructure and the already strained resources that were devoted to combating the coronavirus.
How have Lebanese people responded to the explosion amid economic and political crises?
Large protests erupted in Lebanon in 2019 denouncing government corruption and mismanagement. Protesters took to the streets again in April as the coronavirus and financial crisis heaped economic pressure on ordinary Lebanese people. Protesters attacked bank buildings as they vented frustration at soaring prices of food and other goods and what many Lebanese see as a sclerotic political system unwilling to fix the country’s problems.
Critics of the Lebanese government are now asking how and why the fire and resulting explosion took place. Demands for accountability are likely to grow more intense as Beirut emerges from the immediate aftermath of the blast.
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