Five years ago today, Beirut Lebanon sat shattered. One of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history

had ripped apart its waterfront with a terrifying power that registered well up the Richter scale.

The blast, which many still refer to as the bomb, was not terrorism, nor was at war.

It was caused by issues that have long plagued Lebanon for years and still do.

Municipal incompetence, government corruption, and a perceived indifference among local leaders.

Now years later, as Lela Malana Allen reports, the outlook for Beirut is, if anything, more dire.

A single moment that changed the face of a city and its people.

At 608 p.m. on August 4th, 2020, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in the port of

Beirut, ravaging 12 miles of the city. It was the third largest non-nuclear explosion in history.

Isam's 38-year-old brother Abdur died that day.

Isam thought it was the end for him too.

Moments after the blast, as he pulled shards of shattered window from his face, his entire

apartment building collapsed on top of him.

I woke up eight minutes after. I tasted blood and both of my legs were stuck.

The government did little to respond. Beirutis and Lebanese volunteers from across the country

rushed to help.

Isam was trapped under the rubble of his home for 17 hours before being rescued.

I was in pain, but the only thing that made me survive the 17 hours was the people that I was surrounded by.

Whoever lived nearby, they came to give some help.

With extensive rehabilitation, he can now walk a short way with limited movement in his left leg.

Running is a distant dream.

But it's the loss of his beloved brother he can't move past.

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