View of the destroyed silos of the port of Beirut. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
BEIRUT — The deadly Aug. 4, 2020 explosion at the Beirut port claimed another victim Saturday night, more than a year and a half after the tragedy that left more than 200 dead and 6,500 injured.
Rita Antoun Hardini’s death was announced on Sunday by Mariana Fodoulian, whose sister died on Aug. 4, the state-run National News Agency reported. According to the NNA, Fodoulian said Hardini was seriously injured on Aug. 4 and had remained on life support until she died on Saturday. Her funeral will be held on Monday.
On Saturday, Julia Audi, another victim of the blast, also died from her injuries. Audi had remained in a coma for about a month after the tragedy.
The Aug. 4 explosion occurred when huge quantities of ammonium nitrate haphazardly stored in a port warehouse caught fire and detonated, causing damage and destruction in large swathes of the capital.
Today, the investigation into the blast, entrusted to Judge Tarek Bitar, is suspended due to numerous appeals filed against the judge by several political and security officials implicated in the case.