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Chemical blast leaves Beirut in ruins - 12th August 2020 View All

A massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon has shocked the world. The event began as a small fire at the city's port last Tuesday.

However, the fire damaged a warehouse which contained 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. This chemical is highly explosive it created an enormous blast. This was felt over 240 kilometres away on Cyprus.

Beirut has been left like a city after an earthquake. The blast has made 300,000 people homeless, including 100,000 children. It has killed at least 220 and left 6,000 injured.

International assistance has been arriving in Beirut but the Lebanese government has been widely criticised. It failed to handle the crisis or its causes and the whole government resigned on Monday, 10th August.

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