Six years after Beirut blast, families fight for truth

On August 4, 2020, at exactly 6:07pm, the history of Beirut was brutally split into two eras. A huge explosion, caused by the ignition of 2,750 tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, ripped through the Lebanese capital.The blast, widely considered one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in modern history, killed at least 218 people, wounded thousands, and decimated entire neighbourhoods.Six years later, the tragedy remains an open wound, with grieving families waging a relentless legal battle against a deeply entrenched political establishment to uncover the truth.Ultimate sacrificeMinutes before the detonation, the Beirut Fire Brigade was dispatched to extinguish a blaze at the port’s Hangar 12. Among the crew were Sahar Fares, a nurse who had become the brigade’s first female operational member, and firefighter Joe Noun.Both rushed towards the fire, completely unaware that it would be their final mission. Six years on, their red helmets still hang at the fire station, symbolising a duty that cost them their lives.Yet, out of this immense tragedy, a resilient bond was forged. Brought together by shared pain and protests demanding accountability, William Noun, Joe’s brothe...