World’s Biggest Non-Nuclear Explosion Ever

On July 31, 2020, a satellite image of Beirut Port in Lebanon looked ordinary. But just four days later, the same port would transform into a war zone—leveled hangars, shattered buildings, and a giant crater the size of two Boeing 747s. What happened on August 4, 2020, would become one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in human history.

A City Wedding Interrupted by Disaster

That day, a video went viral across the internet. A bride named Isra Seblani was posing for a wedding photoshoot in Beirut’s Saifi Square when suddenly, a massive shockwave forced her and others to run for their lives. Moments before, at 5:45 PM, welders at Hangar 12 near the port were sealing a crack in the warehouse wall. Sparks from the welding ignited a fire inside the hangar.

Within ten minutes, at 5:55 PM, nine firefighters and a paramedic team arrived to assess the situation. Over radio, they reported something felt off—the fire was growing uncontrollably, and strange popping noises were coming from inside. Just 12 minutes later, at 6:07 PM, a massive explosion rocked the port.

The First and Second Blasts

The first explosion triggered a wave of fireworks flashes and thick white smoke. Hangar 12 had stored a shipment of fireworks—these likely ignited during the fire. The blast registered the explosive force of 1,500 kilograms of TNT.

But this was just the beginning.

Thirty seconds later, a second, catastrophic explosion ripped through Beirut. Captured on multiple cameras by people who had been filming the first blast, the footage showed a towering fireball and a shockwave faster than the speed of sound. A white dome—actually vaporized water from the intense pressure wave—enveloped large parts of the city, followed by a thick red cloud.

Experts later confirmed: the red smoke was a clear sign of ammonium nitrate—a highly explosive chemical stored in Hangar 12.

A Shockwave Felt Around the World

The power of the second explosion was staggering. It shattered windows 8 km away at Beirut’s airport, and the U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake. In Cyprus, 200 km away, terrified residents fled their homes thinking it was a natural disaster.

According to scientists at the University of Sheffield, the explosion was equal to 1.5 kilotons of TNT—1,000 times more powerful than the first blast and nearly 10% the strength of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.

The explosion left a 135-meter-wide crater, immediately filled by seawater. Massive ships nearby were destroyed, and one luxury cruise ship, 390 feet long, was thrown into the air and capsized.

A City in Ruins

Beirut was plunged into chaos. The shockwave destroyed homes, crushed buildings, uprooted trees, flipped cars, and bent steel beams like paper. Power outages across the city stalled emergency response efforts. Military bulldozers had to clear roads so rescue workers could reach victims.

The human toll was devastating:

• 218 people lost their lives
• Over 7,000 were injured
• 12% of Beirut’s population became homeless overnight

Hospitals were overwhelmed—some destroyed, others resorting to treating patients in parking lots and on sidewalks. St. George Hospital, located just meters from the blast site, was completely destroyed, yet doctors continued working outside amidst the rubble.

The Deadly Cause: A Time Bomb in Storage

What caused this apocalyptic event?

It began in 2013, when a Russian cargo ship named Rhosus en route from Georgia to Mozambique was forced to dock in Beirut due to technical issues. The ship was carrying 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in fertilizers and explosives. Because of unpaid port fees and debts, the ship was confiscated—and its cargo transferred to Hangar 12.

There it sat for seven years, in flimsy plastic bags, without proper safety measures. Over time, port authorities sent multiple warning letters to government officials, stating the material was highly dangerous and improperly stored next to kerosene, hydrochloric acid, oil drums, and 15 tons of fireworks. Despite the warnings—nothing was done.

Emails Ignored, Disaster Ensued

In 2014, the Director of Lebanese Customs sent an urgent email to a judge warning about the ammonium nitrate. Other reports advised selling the material to Lebanese explosives companies or exporting it. In 2019, another warning was issued stating that the climate conditions inside the hangar were unsuitable.

Still, the government ignored every letter—even when a hole in the hangar’s wall increased the security risk. Ironically, it was during repair work on that very hole that sparks ignited the deadly fire.

Political Interference Stalls Justice

As of 2025, five years after the disaster, no one has been held accountable. Investigations have been repeatedly delayed due to political interference, ministerial immunity, and conflicts within the judiciary. Judge Fadi Sawan, who initially charged top ministers, was removed. Judge Tariq Bitar took over, but groups like Hezbollah opposed him and filed legal challenges.

From 2022 to 2024, the investigation remained frozen. After Nawaf Salam became Prime Minister in January 2025 and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict flared, the case was reopened. Reports say Judge Bitar will finally issue his verdict on August 4, 2025—the fifth anniversary of the explosion.

A Memorial Frozen in Time

Today, Beirut still bears the scars. At the blast site stands an 8-foot-tall statue made from twisted steel, broken glass, and rubble. Shaped like a woman holding a sword, it honors the 218 lives lost that day. At her feet lies a clock—frozen at 6:08 PM, the exact time the city changed forever.