Mysterious Explosion in Beirut... "It Was Like the Nuclear Blast in Hiroshima"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A massive explosion of unknown cause occurred in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, resulting in more than 3,000 casualties. The powerful shockwave generated by the explosion spread to the outskirts of Beirut, damaging most buildings and vehicles in the city. Although the exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, the Lebanese government suspects that the accident was caused by the explosion of chemicals stored in a warehouse at the Beirut port.

According to foreign media including CNN, two explosions occurred at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, on the 4th (local time). The explosions damaged many buildings and vehicles not only around the port but also throughout the city, with at least 73 people reported dead and over 3,700 injured. According to Russia’s TASS news agency, the Jordanian seismic observatory announced that the shock from the Beirut explosion was equivalent to an earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, and the explosion sound was reportedly heard in Cyprus, 240 km away from Beirut.

Beirut fell into chaos immediately after the explosion as the city center was devastated. The number of dead and injured continues to rise. Marwan Aboud, mayor of Beirut, broke down in tears during an interview with Sky News, saying, "It was like the nuclear explosion that happened in Hiroshima. I don’t know how we will recover from this." Witnesses reported that the powerful shockwave spread across the city within seconds, instantly damaging buildings and vehicles, and that smoke resembling the mushroom cloud formed after a nuclear explosion appeared, making the explosion scene look like a nuclear blast.

While the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, the Lebanese government stated that the disaster is presumed to have been caused by the simultaneous explosion of ammonium nitrate stored in the port warehouse. According to AFP, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said at a press conference held immediately after the accident, "About 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were stored in the warehouse at Beirut port where the explosion occurred," adding, "It is unacceptable that such a dangerous substance was stored without any safety measures for six years." Earlier, Lebanese Interior Minister Hamad Fahmi announced that initial investigations suggest the explosion was caused by explosives seized by authorities in 2014.

Ammonium nitrate, identified as the cause of the accident, is a chemical widely used as a main ingredient in agricultural fertilizers and in the manufacture of military and civilian explosives. In the 2004 Ryongchon station explosion in North Korea, a train carrying ammonium nitrate collided with another train, causing a massive explosion that resulted in over 1,200 casualties.