Ammonium Nitrate Explosion (Beirut)

The Beirut ammonium nitrate explosion occurred on August 4, 2020, when a large quantity of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse caught fire and detonated. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical used in fertilizers and explosives; when heated or exposed to fire, it can rapidly decompose and produce a powerful explosion. The blast caused massive destruction across Beirut, killing over 200 people, injuring thousands, and damaging buildings and infrastructure. This tragedy highlighted the dangers of improper storage and handling of hazardous chemicals and resulted in calls for improved safety regulations.