Two huge explosion rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, 2020, wounding dozens of people, shaking buildings, and sending huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. (Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Aug 04, 2020
This is a developing story... Check back for possible updates...
A massive explosion at the port in Beruit, Lebanon sent a shockwave across the city, blowing out windows and sending people scrambling for cover.
While casualty figures were not available, the Daily Star reports that "dozens are feared dead" in the wake of the blast.
\u201cBeirut port after explosion. \n\nFully destroyed. Too much bodies to count. \n\n#beirutexplosion @akhbar\u201d— Jenan Moussa (@Jenan Moussa) 1596564007
An official cause of the blast has not been determined or announced by authorities, but early speculation ranged from stored munitions to possible fertilizers or a combination of factors.
Lebanon's Interior Minister Mohammad Fahm reportedly said that ammonium nitrate stored at the port was responsible for the blast. Head of General Security Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told the National News Agency that the "highly explosive materials" were seized years ago.
Thousands are wounded and at least dozens are dead, according to media reports.
\u201cThis is devastating. Lebanon was already spiralling, in the midst of a political and currency crisis with accelerating COVID-19 cases. People were going hungry - and that's the city's largest grain elevator right there.\u201d— Tobias Schneider (@Tobias Schneider) 1596562594
"People are discussing about which hospital they can get to across the city," said Al Jazeera's Timour Azhari. "This hospital, the Hotel-Dieu hospital has formally announced that people should stop coming here."
Video shared to social media shows the blast followed by a shockwave making its way across the city.
\u201cHuge blast in Beirut just now!\u201d— Tobias Schneider (@Tobias Schneider) 1596554736
\u201cJust received this video!!! Everyone stay safe. #Beirut\u201d— Zee (@Zee) 1596554500
"The city is in a state of panic," reportedCNN's Ben Wedeman. "The city is in a state of shock."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
This is a developing story... Check back for possible updates...
A massive explosion at the port in Beruit, Lebanon sent a shockwave across the city, blowing out windows and sending people scrambling for cover.
While casualty figures were not available, the Daily Star reports that "dozens are feared dead" in the wake of the blast.
\u201cBeirut port after explosion. \n\nFully destroyed. Too much bodies to count. \n\n#beirutexplosion @akhbar\u201d— Jenan Moussa (@Jenan Moussa) 1596564007
An official cause of the blast has not been determined or announced by authorities, but early speculation ranged from stored munitions to possible fertilizers or a combination of factors.
Lebanon's Interior Minister Mohammad Fahm reportedly said that ammonium nitrate stored at the port was responsible for the blast. Head of General Security Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told the National News Agency that the "highly explosive materials" were seized years ago.
Thousands are wounded and at least dozens are dead, according to media reports.
\u201cThis is devastating. Lebanon was already spiralling, in the midst of a political and currency crisis with accelerating COVID-19 cases. People were going hungry - and that's the city's largest grain elevator right there.\u201d— Tobias Schneider (@Tobias Schneider) 1596562594
"People are discussing about which hospital they can get to across the city," said Al Jazeera's Timour Azhari. "This hospital, the Hotel-Dieu hospital has formally announced that people should stop coming here."
Video shared to social media shows the blast followed by a shockwave making its way across the city.
\u201cHuge blast in Beirut just now!\u201d— Tobias Schneider (@Tobias Schneider) 1596554736
\u201cJust received this video!!! Everyone stay safe. #Beirut\u201d— Zee (@Zee) 1596554500
"The city is in a state of panic," reportedCNN's Ben Wedeman. "The city is in a state of shock."
This is a developing story... Check back for possible updates...
A massive explosion at the port in Beruit, Lebanon sent a shockwave across the city, blowing out windows and sending people scrambling for cover.
While casualty figures were not available, the Daily Star reports that "dozens are feared dead" in the wake of the blast.
\u201cBeirut port after explosion. \n\nFully destroyed. Too much bodies to count. \n\n#beirutexplosion @akhbar\u201d— Jenan Moussa (@Jenan Moussa) 1596564007
An official cause of the blast has not been determined or announced by authorities, but early speculation ranged from stored munitions to possible fertilizers or a combination of factors.
Lebanon's Interior Minister Mohammad Fahm reportedly said that ammonium nitrate stored at the port was responsible for the blast. Head of General Security Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told the National News Agency that the "highly explosive materials" were seized years ago.
Thousands are wounded and at least dozens are dead, according to media reports.
\u201cThis is devastating. Lebanon was already spiralling, in the midst of a political and currency crisis with accelerating COVID-19 cases. People were going hungry - and that's the city's largest grain elevator right there.\u201d— Tobias Schneider (@Tobias Schneider) 1596562594
"People are discussing about which hospital they can get to across the city," said Al Jazeera's Timour Azhari. "This hospital, the Hotel-Dieu hospital has formally announced that people should stop coming here."
Video shared to social media shows the blast followed by a shockwave making its way across the city.
\u201cHuge blast in Beirut just now!\u201d— Tobias Schneider (@Tobias Schneider) 1596554736
\u201cJust received this video!!! Everyone stay safe. #Beirut\u201d— Zee (@Zee) 1596554500
"The city is in a state of panic," reportedCNN's Ben Wedeman. "The city is in a state of shock."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.