Remembering Aug 4: Lebanon's Black Day

Published August 4th, 2021 - 10:25 GMT

By Sally Shakkour

On August 4, 2020, Lebanese's lives were changed forever. Over 200 people were killed and 7,500 others were injured in the horrific Beirut's port blast.

The port blast was defined as one the of the world's most devastating non-nuclear explosions.

A blaze in the hangar 12 caused smoke in the sky as firefighters rushed fast to the spot to turn the fire off; The first explosion reported at 6:07 p.m. was followed by a stronger one 33 seconds later killing all the 10 firefighters.

Lebanon is still investigating the cause of port blast that killed 218 people and causing billion worth of damages in the city as some have lost their home and are homeless till this moment.

A cargo of 2,750 tonnes of the substance were stored in Beirut's port warehouse without proper safety measures for 6 years before the blast.

Families of victims in the horrific post blast are still awaiting for their beloved's justice amid the country's worsening economic situation and the government deadlock.

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Beirut's port blast killed over 200 people

White roses are seen on portraits of victims of last year's Beirut port blast in the Lebanese capital, as Lebanon marks on August 4, 2021 a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged the city. Lebanon marks today a year since the massive explosion, with a mix of grief over lost lives and rage at the impunity for its worst peacetime disaster at a time when its economy was already in tatters.

A gavel monument symbolising justice is seen in front of the damaged grain silos at Beirut port on August 4, 2021, as Lebanon marks a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged the capital Beirut. JOSEPH EID / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 17, 2020 Karlen cries during the funeral procession of her husband Charbel Karam, brother Najib Hitti, and cousin Charbel Hitti in their hometown of Qartaba, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP

In this file photo taken on August 15, 2020 Lebanese psychotherapist Rony Mekattaf, 59, who suffers from peripheral vision loss after he was wounded at the Beirut port blast last August, poses for a picture during an interview at his clinic in Beirut. ANWAR AMRO / AFP

Brazil's former football star Ronaldinho (C) lays a wreath of flowers in remembrance of members of the Lebanese civil defence that were killed almost a year prior during the blast that rocked the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut, at the Beirut fire brigade headquarters near the port blast site on July 29, 2021. AFP

In this file photo taken on August 06, 2020 a woman sits amidst the rubble in her damaged house in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 6, 2020, two days after a massive chemical explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP

One year later, no politicians held to account and the country facing soaring poverty, a plummeting currency, angry protests and shortages of basic items from medicine to fuel, many blast survivors are simmering in the lead up to the tragedy's first anniversary. IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 4, 2020 men gesture at the scene of an explosion at the port in Beirut. On August 4, 2021 Lebanon will mark the first anniversary of the devastating port blast that thundered through the city, levelling entire neighbourhoods, killing more than 200 people and wounding 6,500 others.

In this file photo taken on August 04, 2020 a helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut.

One year later, no politicians held to account and the country facing soaring poverty, a plummeting currency, angry protests and shortages of basic items from medicine to fuel, many blast survivors are simmering in the lead up to the tragedy's first anniversary. AFP

White roses are seen on portraits of victims of last year's Beirut port blast in the Lebanese capital, as Lebanon marks on August 4, 2021 a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged the city. Lebanon marks today a year since the massive explosion, with a mix of grief over lost lives and rage at the impunity for its worst peacetime disaster at a time when its economy was already in tatters.

A gavel monument symbolising justice is seen in front of the damaged grain silos at Beirut port on August 4, 2021, as Lebanon marks a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged the capital Beirut. JOSEPH EID / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 17, 2020 Karlen cries during the funeral procession of her husband Charbel Karam, brother Najib Hitti, and cousin Charbel Hitti in their hometown of Qartaba, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP

In this file photo taken on August 15, 2020 Lebanese psychotherapist Rony Mekattaf, 59, who suffers from peripheral vision loss after he was wounded at the Beirut port blast last August, poses for a picture during an interview at his clinic in Beirut. ANWAR AMRO / AFP

Brazil's former football star Ronaldinho (C) lays a wreath of flowers in remembrance of members of the Lebanese civil defence that were killed almost a year prior during the blast that rocked the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut, at the Beirut fire brigade headquarters near the port blast site on July 29, 2021. AFP

In this file photo taken on August 06, 2020 a woman sits amidst the rubble in her damaged house in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 6, 2020, two days after a massive chemical explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP

One year later, no politicians held to account and the country facing soaring poverty, a plummeting currency, angry protests and shortages of basic items from medicine to fuel, many blast survivors are simmering in the lead up to the tragedy's first anniversary. IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 4, 2020 men gesture at the scene of an explosion at the port in Beirut. On August 4, 2021 Lebanon will mark the first anniversary of the devastating port blast that thundered through the city, levelling entire neighbourhoods, killing more than 200 people and wounding 6,500 others.

In this file photo taken on August 04, 2020 a helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut.

Tags:Lebanon port blast Beirut

Remembering Aug 4: Lebanon's Black Day

A gavel monument symbolising justice is seen in front of the damaged grain silos at Beirut port on August 4, 2021, as Lebanon marks a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged the capital Beirut. JOSEPH EID / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 17, 2020 Karlen cries during the funeral procession of her husband Charbel Karam, brother Najib Hitti, and cousin Charbel Hitti in their hometown of Qartaba, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP

In this file photo taken on August 15, 2020 Lebanese psychotherapist Rony Mekattaf, 59, who suffers from peripheral vision loss after he was wounded at the Beirut port blast last August, poses for a picture during an interview at his clinic in Beirut. ANWAR AMRO / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 06, 2020 a woman sits amidst the rubble in her damaged house in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 6, 2020, two days after a massive chemical explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP

One year later, no politicians held to account and the country facing soaring poverty, a plummeting currency, angry protests and shortages of basic items from medicine to fuel, many blast survivors are simmering in the lead up to the tragedy's first anniversary. IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 04, 2020 a helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut.

One year later, no politicians held to account and the country facing soaring poverty, a plummeting currency, angry protests and shortages of basic items from medicine to fuel, many blast survivors are simmering in the lead up to the tragedy's first anniversary. AFP

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