Crisis upon crisis: blast rocks a Lebanon already on its knees

Deadly explosion at Beirut’s port comes amid coronavirus pandemic and economic meltdown

• Beirut explosion: latest updates
• Full report: Huge blast rocks Lebanese capital
• ‘We’re cursed’: shock and despair in Beirut as explosion devastates city

Lebanon has been crippled by a number of long-running, seemingly intractable crises for decades. The country endured a devastating 15-year civil war and has often been caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts.

But the deadly explosion that ripped through the Beirut port on Tuesday – which comes amid the coronavirus pandemic and an economic meltdown – may be the calamity that brings a beleaguered nation to its knees.

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