The 2020 Beirut explosions were a massive blast at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, on 4 August 2020, caused by the ignition of a large quantity of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse for years without proper safety measures. A fire at the site preceded the explosion, which was felt across the country and caused widespread destruction in the city. More than two hundred people were killed, thousands were injured, and hundreds of thousands were left with damaged homes. The disaster occurred during a severe economic crisis and was widely seen as the result of negligence and corruption among officials, who had been warned of the danger. The government resigned, and an investigation has been slowed by political obstruction.
Before and after
- 28 July 2020Founding of Lublin Triangle
- 30 July 2020Launch of Mars 2020
- 30 July 2020Launch of Ingenuity
- 30 July 2020Launch of Perseverance
- 4 August 20202020 Beirut explosions
- 9 August 20202020 Belarusian presidential election
- September 2020Discovery of TOI-700 d
- from 27 September 2020 to 10 November 2020Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
- 16 October 2020Murder of Samuel Paty
More in Society, economy & sport
- 16 November 1945Founding of UNESCO
- 7 April 1948Founding of World Health Organization
- 1950Origins of Formula One
- 1959HIV/AIDS
- 9 September 1999Founding of African Union
- from 15 November 2019 to 5 May 2023COVID-19 pandemic
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 21st century.