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Beirut explosion: Remembering victims of the deadly blast

The massive explosion at Beirut’s port on August 4 killed scores of people and wounded thousands of others.

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Beirut victims
Alexandra Najjar, 3 years old.
By Saseen Kawzally
Published On 11 Aug 2020

It has been one week since a massive explosion caused by the ignition of some 2,750 tonnes of stored ammonium nitrate devastated Lebanon’s capital.

Thousands of people on Tuesday gathered in Beirut where a moment of silence was held by for the victims of the catastrophic explosion, which killed at least 171 people, according to the health ministry’s latest tally. Dozens of others are still missing, while some 6,000 suffered injuries and 300,000 were left homeless.

Crowds walked through some of the capital’s worst-hit neighbourhoods, marching towards the parliament building.

Questions remain as to why such a huge stash of dangerous material – used in bombs and fertilisers – was allowed to be stored at Beirut’s port since 2013.

About 20 people have been detained over the explosion. Dozens have been questioned, including two former cabinet ministers.

Nearly two dozen people are still unaccounted for and were believed to be close to the warehouse where the blast took place.

Here are some of the victims who were caught in the deadly blast on August 4.

Rawan Misto. She was 20 years old. She was a waitress in a restaurant close to #Beirut port. She was working to financially support her family
Rawan Misto, 20, was a waitress in a restaurant close to Beirut port. She worked to support her family.
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Beirut victims
Jean Marc Bonfils was an award-winning French architect who lived and worked in Lebanon since the reconstruction period in the 1990s. He also taught at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts and built one of the iconic new buildings in Mar Mikhael.
Beirut victims
Zena Raji from Batroun.
Beirut victims
Sharbel Hitti,22, from Qartaba, Keserwan, had been a member of the fire brigade since 2018.
Beirut victims
Najib Hitti, 26, Sharbel's brother, had also been a member of the fire brigade since 2018.
Beirut victims
Charbel Karam was a fire brigade first responder. He has two daughters, both toddlers. Karam is married to Karlen Hitti, the sister of Najib and Sharbel Hitti who also died.
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Beirut victims
Sahar Fares, 25, was a firefighter paramedic, from el-Qaa, Biqaa. A first responder, she died on the site of the explosion.
Beirut victims
Ali Msheik, from Baalbek, was a port labourer.
Beirut victims
Ralph Mallahi, a fire brigade first responder, was one of 10 victims from the fire brigade. He joined the unit in 2018.
Beirut victims
Joe Akiki was a port worker and a student at Notre Dame University.
Beirut victims
Jessy Kahwaji Dauod, 31, was a nurse at St George Hospital.
Beirut victims
Mahmoud Saied, 22, from Akkar, Ain el-Dahab. He is a father of two, and worked as a waiter in Mar Mikhael where he died.
Beirut victims
Kazem Shamseddine, in his 60s, died on Monot Street. From Joun, southern Lebanon, he is father to two daughters and a son. Shamseddine used to live in Saudi Arabia, but came home to Lebanon after he retired. A staunch leftist who actively worked against sectarianism and corruption in his village, he is fondly remembered. He was the nephew of iconic Lebanese singer Nasri Shamseddine.
Beirut victims
Ibrahim al-Amin was a day labourer at the granary in Beirut's port.
Beirut victims
Hamad Al Attar from Baalbek was a day labourer at the granary in Beirut's port.
Beirut victims
Mary Tawk, was a media officer at Electicite du Liban for more than 20 years and a member of the Syndicate of Lebanese Press Editors.
Beirut victims
Lyad al-Amin was a civil engineer in his 50s who lived in Rmeil, the first row of buildings facing the port. He was the father to three - Yasmina, 26, Zeid, 25, and Bushr, 24.
Beirut victims
Abdo Ata, 39, from Ashrafieh, died when his house collapsed in the blast.