BEIRUT — On Monday, hundreds of Lebanese citizens assembled solemnly along Beirut’s coastline to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragic port explosion of 2020, which claimed more than 200 lives in one of the largest non-nuclear detonations ever recorded.

Participants carried Lebanese flags and portraits of victims, expressing deep frustration over the continued absence of accountability for the disaster. William Noun, whose brother Joseph— a firefighter—perished in the blast, expressed the public’s impatience, stating, "Can someone tell me why five years on we're still standing here? If everyone stands with this cause, then who's against us?" He added from a stage near the port, "This file needs to close. It's been five years and we don't want to have a sixth."

The explosion devastated large areas of Beirut, leaving tens of thousands homeless and causing extensive damage, including to the grain silos at the port, which have continued to deteriorate since the blast. During the commemoration, attendees observed a moment of silence at 6:07 p.m., the exact time the explosion occurred.

Catherine Otayek, a Lebanese expatriate residing in France, said, "I find it unbelievable that five years later, we still don't know exactly what happened. I hoped for answers in 2020. I didn't think we'd still be here." Despite not having lost a loved one, she makes it a point to return annually for the remembrance out of solidarity.

The explosion occurred amidst Lebanon's severe economic downturn and was followed by ongoing political turmoil and conflict, including the Hezbollah-Israel war in 2023.

Initial investigations into the blast, caused by a fire igniting hundreds of tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, were promised to conclude within five days. However, political interference has repeatedly obstructed judicial efforts, with officials filing multiple legal challenges that have stalled progress.

Despite the setbacks, recent administration pledges bring renewed hope. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both assuming office earlier this year, have emphasized their commitment to justice. Aoun declared on Monday, "Justice will not die, and accountability will inevitably come," though neither attended the memorial event.

Judge Tarek Bitar resumed questioning officials this year but has yet to issue a preliminary indictment, a milestone many victims' families eagerly await. Paul Naggear, who lost his three-year-old daughter Alexandra, voiced the collective demand, saying, "We want a preliminary indictment that is complete and comprehensive. We want to know who was supposed to evacuate our neighborhoods so that we could get to the hospital, and so my daughter could have survived."

Advocates and rights organizations stress the urgency of a thorough investigation. Reina Wehbi, Amnesty International's Lebanon campaigner, underscored, "Justice delayed is justice denied. The families of those killed and injured in the Beirut explosion have waited an intolerable five years. They must not be forced to endure another year of impunity."