Society's healing process following a tragic event, in this case the Beirut blast, involves addressing collective sorrow and pain experienced by survivors.
The catastrophic explosion that rocked Beirut on August 4, 2020, was a tragic event that left over 220 people dead, thousands injured, and approximately 300,000 displaced due to infrastructure damage. This explosion, which was heard over 200km away in Cyprus and was equivalent to a 3.3 magnitude earthquake, was caused by the detonation of approximately 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely in a warehouse at the Port of Beirut for several years.
Dr Alexandre Machado, a clinical neuropsychologist, explains that the Beirut explosion was different because it was not the result of war or conflict but a catastrophic accident caused by negligence. The highly volatile chemical had arrived on the Moldovan-flagged ship Rhosus in 2013 but was offloaded and stored after being impounded. Despite repeated warnings about its danger, it remained stored in unsafe conditions until the explosion.
The aftermath of the explosion was chaotic, causing chaos in the city, and splitting lives into "before" and "after." Dima Anis Raydan, visiting from her village in Bekaa, was stuck in traffic when she felt the impact of shattered glass and saw her white T-shirt "turn red with blood." Many people, like Tony Khayat, a Lebanese national who lived opposite the port, felt shocked and affected deeply by the explosion, even though they weren't physically there.
The explosion represented a breaking point for the people of Lebanon, who were already emotionally worn down by years of economic collapse, political crisis, and mass trauma. Dr Dana Jammal, a counselling psychologist, emphasizes the importance of art, solidarity, and community in providing dignity, feeling heard, valued, and seen, especially in cases where there is no accountability. Many people impacted by the explosion find strength in shared grief and solidarity.
Regarding the ongoing investigation and accountability efforts, investigations have faced significant delays, political interference, and legal challenges since the explosion. The first judge appointed was removed due to bias claims, and the current main investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, has confronted repeated suspensions, lawsuits, and non-cooperation from high-level officials. Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, himself implicated in charges related to the case, has actively hindered the investigation.
However, as of 2025, with Lebanon’s new government and leadership supporting renewed accountability efforts, the investigation has gained some momentum after years of stalemate. Judge Bitar has been working on a comprehensive investigation file, preparing an indictment anticipated by the end of 2025, and awaiting cooperation from foreign countries, including reports from France, which conducted a parallel probe since some victims were French citizens.
Despite the renewed push, no one has yet been held accountable, and the process remains fraught with obstacles, causing victims’ families and international observers to continue criticizing the slow pursuit of justice. The investigation is ongoing but faces a fragile path toward delivering accountability.
As for the grain silos left standing after the explosion, they are a source of debate, with some wanting them removed and others wanting them to remain as a memorial. Dr Jammal advises creating meaningful and grounding rituals for anniversary dates and reminds people not to put pressure on themselves to move on. Dr Machado encourages those impacted to seek support on anniversary dates, as they serve to reflect on progress and offer comfort by recognizing growth.
Derek Issacs, a British national who moved to the UAE in 2018 after living in Beirut for 17 years, felt shocked and affected deeply by the explosion, even though he wasn't physically there. Issacs's flat and many of his possessions were destroyed in the explosion, and he later sought out therapy. Even his cat, Little Frank, survived the explosion with a few cuts and scuffs.
Raydan left Lebanon the following year, but Beirut still affects her physically. Trauma anniversaries can reignite intense emotions, so approaching them gently is important, according to Dr Jammal. The events of August 4, 2020, are particularly difficult for many to move forward from due to the haunting question: "Why did this happen to us, the people who loved Beirut?" Shared narratives can help individuals and societies start to heal from tragedy, according to Dr Machado.
[1] BBC News. (2021). Beirut blast: What caused the explosion? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56198187
[2] Al Jazeera. (2021). Lebanon's Beirut blast: The road to accountability. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/2/lebanons-beirut-blast-the-road-to-accountability
[3] The Guardian. (2021). Beirut blast: Two years on, no one held accountable. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/04/beirut-blast-two-years-on-no-one-held-accountable
[4] The New York Times. (2021). Lebanon's Government Faces Calls to Hold Accountable Those Responsible for Beirut Blast. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/04/world/middleeast/lebanon-beirut-blast-anniversary.html
[5] Reuters. (2021). Lebanon's new government pushes for accountability over Beirut blast. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanon-new-government-pushes-accountability-over-beirut-blast-2021-09-08/
- The catastrophic explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 4, 2020, was caused by the detonation of approximately 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely in a warehouse for several years, as reported by BBC News.
- According to Al Jazeera, many people in Lebanon felt that the Beirut explosion represented a breaking point due to the country's ongoing economic collapse, political crisis, and mass trauma.
- The Guardian states that, as of 2022, no one has yet been held accountable for the Beirut explosion, despite renewed efforts by Lebanon's new government, two years after the tragic event.
- Dr Dana Jammal, a counselling psychologist, emphasizes the importance of art, solidarity, and community in providing support and healing for people affected by the Beirut explosion, as reported by The New York Times.
- Reuters reports that Judge Tarek Bitar, the main investigator of the Beirut explosion, faces repeated obstacles in his pursuit of accountability, including delays, political interference, and non-cooperation from high-level officials.
- In response to the Beirut explosion, The New York Times also reports that some people have debated whether to remove the grain silos left standing as a memorial, or to keep them as a reminder of the tragic event, while others encourage creating meaningful and grounding rituals on anniversary dates to reflect on progress and offer comfort by recognizing growth, as suggested by Dr Jammal and Dr Machado.
