Beirut after the Explosion
\u201cThe fifteen years of civil war did not produce as much damage as the few seconds did on August 4th.\u201d\n\n\n\nOn the evening of August 4, 2020, Beirut\u2014the capital of Lebanon and one of the oldest cities in the world\u2014experienced a devastating explosion, when more than two and a half tons of ammonium nitrate detonated at its port on the Mediterranean Sea. The explosion was felt across the region, killing nearly two hundred and injuring and displacing thousands more, many of whom were already struggling to cope with the effects of a global pandemic and economic crisis. Settlement in Beirut dates to the Bronze Age, and this long history has made the city a vibrant cultural center for thousands of years. The immense destruction caused by the recent explosion threatens not only Beirut\u2019s built cultural heritage but also its social fabric. \n\n\n\nIn this episode, Lebanese architect Fares el-Dahdah discusses the crisis in Beirut, the dangers facing people, communities, and buildings, and the innovative responses underway. El-Dahdah is a professor of architecture and director of the Humanities Research Center at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He is currently living in Beirut. \n\n\n\nFor images, transcripts, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts.