Beirut explosion: Before-and-after pictures show the damage one year on

Many buildings still lie in ruins a year after the blast devastated much of downtown Beirut

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  These images show various sites in Beirut on August 5, the day after the blast, and how they look now, one year on. This building has only been partially repaired.

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  The damage to this house in Beirut has been partially covered.

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  Cars were destroyed next to this church in the blast area.

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  Damage near the site of the explosion and how it looks now.

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  A restaurant damaged by the explosion has been largely repaired and restored.

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  A view of the port on the day of the explosion and how it looks today.

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  A petrol station and buildings in Al Rmeil area in Beirut.

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  The damage to Beirut Souks in the downtown area of the city has been repaired.

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  The grain silo at Beirut Port the day after the blast and how it looks now.

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  A street in Beirut the day after the blast and how it looks now.

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  A street in Beirut the day after the blast and how it looks now.

Listen to the latest podcast on the Beirut blast here

On August 4 last year, Beirut was rocked by a huge explosion, caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate detonating at the city’s port.

The blast killed 218 people, injured thousands more. It left much of the area close to the port in ruins, including the popular neighbourhoods of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael.

A year on, The National takes a look at how the city has changed.

Click through the gallery above or check out the before-and-after photos below to see how much of Beirut has been rebuilt. And how much still lies in ruins.