On August 4, 2020, a catastrophic explosion devastated the port of Beirut, Lebanon. The disaster was caused by the detonation of approximately 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored in a port warehouse for six years. The sequence of events began with a fire in a warehouse adjacent to the one containing the ammonium nitrate. The fire spread, leading to a series of initial explosions, and then the massive detonation of the ammonium nitrate stockpile at 6:08 PM local time.

On August 4, 2020, the city of Beirut, Lebanon, was devastated by one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The catastrophe originated in Warehouse 12 at the Port of Beirut, where a fire ignited 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored for nearly seven years. The resulting blast was equivalent to a small earthquake, generating a massive shockwave that ripped through the city. The explosion killed more than 200 people, injured over 6,000, and instantly rendered

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, with the hope of being a "messenger of peace" as he begins a three-day visit to the nation battered by recent conflicts. Leo is expected to call for unity just days after an Israeli strike on southern Beirut. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports. | CNN