Hundreds Gather in Lebanon to Mark Five Years Since Beirut Blast

On Monday, August 4, hundreds of Lebanese gathered solemnly near Beirut’s coastline to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the devastating port explosion that killed over 200 people and injured thousands in 2020—one of the largest non‑nuclear explosions in history.

The gathering included portraits of victims, Lebanese flags, and a moving reading of names, followed by a silence at precisely 6:07 p.m.—the exact time when the blast tore through the city.

Despite early promises from government officials that accountability would follow swiftly, no individuals have been held responsible for the disaster. Victims’ families and rights groups voiced deep frustration at the lack of progress.

As eyewitness William Noun declared, “This file needs to close. It’s been five years and we don’t want to have a sixth”.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both elected in 2025, pledged renewed focus on the investigation.

Aoun stated: “Justice will not die, and accountability will inevitably come,” though notably neither leader attended the memorial event.

Investigating judge Tarek Bitar has resumed work on the stalled probe. While he has questioned senior officials and security personnel, a formal indictment has yet to be issued, disappointing many who hoped for closure by the anniversary.

Activists and legal advocates, including families like that of Paul Naggear, whose young daughter was killed, continue to press for a comprehensive investigation.

Amnesty International's Lebanon campaigner, Reina Wehbi, emphasised that “justice delayed is justice denied,” calling for a full inquiry to end the impunity that has persisted for half a decade.

The wreckage of the grain silos—damaged in the blast and further deteriorating over the years—stands as a lasting monument to the disaster and a symbol of national trauma.

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