On August 4, 2020, Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, was devastated by a huge blast.
Some 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, stored – somewhat inexplicably – in a harbourside warehouse with a cache of fireworks, caught fire and then exploded with the force of a magnitude 3.5 earthquake.
More than 200 people were killed, 6,500 were injured and homes, offices and public buildings were shattered across the city. The cost in damaged infrastructure alone was subsequently estimated at billions of dollars. And of course, the blast took place amidst a coronavirus pandemic that was already stretching the country’s hard-pressed medical services to breaking point.
Credit to : Al Jazeera English
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