Beirut, Aug 3 (EFE).- On Aug. 4, 2020, a routine call to Beirut’s Karantina fire station ended in tragedy when ten firefighters dispatched to the city’s port perished in what would become the largest non-nuclear explosion in history.
“When they arrived, the chief saw a large warehouse on fire, thick smoke rising, but the doors were all shut,” recalled Captain Ali Najem, head of communications at the firehouse, speaking to EFE.
“They had no idea hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate had been improperly stored inside for years,” she added.
The crew began extinguishing the fire, unaware of the danger.
One firefighter called for reinforcements, and as backup prepared to leave, the explosion ripped through the port.
“If the others had still been in their dorms, they likely would’ve died too. The blast destroyed walls and threw furniture,” Najem added.
The blast killed more than 200 people, injured 6,500, and devastated entire neighborhoods in Beirut.
Among the victims was three-year-old Alexandra Naggear, who died from a brain injury just blocks from the port.
Families mourn and demand accountability
“Everything material was lost, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is our daughter was murdered by a corrupt state that allowed tons of explosives to sit near our home,” her father, Paul Naggear, told EFE.
The ammonium nitrate, reportedly bound for Mozambique, had remained in the port for six years due to technical and legal issues.
Multiple Lebanese officials had been warned of its presence for a long time before the explosion.
“This isn’t just a Lebanese issue. There are actors in several countries involved, companies and individuals who should be held accountable,” said Naggear.
He emphasized that true justice must be thorough, even if it takes years. We’re not asking for revenge, but for full responsibility. Nothing less.”
For Mariana Foudalian, the explosion claimed her sister Gaia, who was about to take a shower before heading out shopping.
“She died in her home, like so many others, at home, on the road, at work,” she said.
Investigation blocked, but pressure grows
Five years on, Lebanon’s investigation into the blast remains largely paralyzed.
According to victims’ families and NGOs, it has been delayed by former senior officials avoiding questioning and obstructing the process.
Lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar faced direct threats, and high-profile suspects often ignored subpoenas.
“They felt protected by the state,” said Naggear. It wasn’t until early 2025, after the appointment of a new prosecutor, that the probe restarted.
Foudalian, now a prominent member of the Victims’ Families Association, said they continue to demand “complete justice,” not just for loved ones, but for all Lebanese citizens.
“We’ve spent five years in the streets protesting. We shouldn’t have had to, we should’ve had justice from the beginning.” EFE
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