![Italian firefighters of the NBCR unit (Nuclear Biological Chemical Radiological) take water samples near the site site of an explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon. A massive explosion Tuesday, apparently caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used for explosives and fertilizer, that had been stored at the port, sent a wave of destruction through Lebanon’s capital, killing nearly 150 people and wounding thousands. (Italian Firefighters via AP)](https://hagadone.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/Lebanon_Italy_Explosion_78183.jpg-54c37_t1170.jpg?5cc718665ab672dba93d511ab4c682bb370e5f86)
Italian firefighters of the NBCR unit (Nuclear Biological Chemical Radiological) take water samples near the site site of an explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon. A massive explosion Tuesday, apparently caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used for explosives and fertilizer, that had been stored at the port, sent a wave of destruction through Lebanon’s capital, killing nearly 150 people and wounding thousands. (Italian Firefighters via AP)
August 7, 2020
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![The Latest: UN says willing to investigate Beirut disaster](
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August 7, 2020 4:14 p.m.
The Latest: UN says willing to investigate Beirut disaster
The United Nations says it would consider a request to launch an international investigation into the explosion that devastated Beirut but hasn’t received such a request from the Lebanese government