2020 Beirut explosions
Also known as 4 August 2020 Beirut explosion, 4 Aug 2020 Beirut explosion, Beirut explosion, 2020 Beirut explosion, 2020 Lebanon explosion, Beirut blast
accidental ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
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On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion occurred in Beirut's port when a large stockpile of ammonium nitrate—a chemical used in fertilizers and explosives—ignited accidentally, killing over 200 people and injuring thousands more. The disaster devastated much of the city, raised serious questions about how such dangerous materials came to be stored in a populated area, and deepened Lebanon's political and economic crisis.
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On 4 August 2020, a major explosion occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, triggered by the ignition of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. The chemical, confiscated in 2014 from the cargo ship MV Rhosus and stored at the Port of Beirut without adequate safety measures for six years, detonated after a fire broke out in a nearby warehouse. The explosion resulted in at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and approximately 300,000 displaced people, alongside property damage estimated at US$15 billion. The blast released energy comparable to 1.1 kilotons of TNT, ranking it among the most powerful non-nuclear explosions ever recorded and the largest single detonation of ammonium nitrate.
The explosion generated a seismic event measuring 3.3 in magnitude, as reported by the United States Geological Survey. Its effects were felt in Lebanon and neighbouring regions, including Syria, Israel, and Cyprus, over 240 km (150 mi) away. Scientific studies noted that the shockwave temporarily disrupted Earth's ionosphere. Adjacent grain silos at the Port of Beirut sustained major damage. In July and August 2022, two years after the explosion, portions of the silos collapsed following fires caused by remaining grain stocks.