What we know about the massive explosion in Beirut that killed at least 135, injured thousands

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

Source: USA Today

What caused the blast?

The cause of the explosion has yet to be officially determined, but Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was stored at the port after it was confiscated from a ship. The material was identified as ammonium nitrate in a tweet on the Lebanese presidential account.

"It is unacceptable that a shipment of ammonium nitrate estimated at 2,750 tons has been present for six years in a warehouse without taking preventive measures that endanger the safety of citizens," Prime Minister Hassan Diab said according to the tweet.

Videos showed an orange cloud over Beirut's port after the explosion, which is consistent with a nitrate-related explosion. Explosives experts and video footage suggested the ammonium nitrate may have been ignited by a fire at what appeared to be a nearby warehouse containing fireworks.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/08/05/beirut-explosion-what-we-know-massive-blast-killed-100/3297195001/

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Ammonium nitrate was a component used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Over a thousand times more of the chemical is what caused the Beirut explosion.

[CaptYossarian]

1. When Mount St. Helens was attacked, who did Donald see celebrating?

What a dolt!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

14. Just my opinion

trump is the worst parts of Col. Klink and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Management surrounds itself in its own image.

[CaptYossarian]

16. True, narcissism and evil apathy.

How can such a caricature fool so many people?

This will be studied for generations.

[Skittles]

2. that is crazy

I remember reporting (OSHA requirement) the chemicals at work that we used to make microfiche - that prompted a visit from firemen who advised that we store certain chemicals apart from other ones. How was this scenario in Beirut EVER allowed to happen?

[csziggy]

9. Lack of regulation

Otherwise known as the GOP's wet dream.

[Skittles]

10. you got that right

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. There will always be someone around...

...ready to cut a corner to make a buck.
That's just what happens in a leadership vacuum.


Which is why we have trump. It's just Republican culture.

[spike jones]

3. ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer

You can spread it on your garden to add nitrogen to the soil or pack it in a can and remove a tree stump.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Ammonium nitrate by itself is explosive. Adding fuel oil makes it a more efficient explosive.

The ammonium ion is a reducing agent, the nitrate is an oxidizing agent. So you have reductant (fuel) and oxidant in one compound. There have been several explosions of NH4NO3 in storage or transport -- Oppau; Texas City; West, TX

[yaesu]

4. the same thing happened here in 1947, google Texas city explosion. nt

[pecosbob]

5. A whole shipload...

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. They found the anchor from that ship over a mile and half away

One of the country's many disasters.

[AKing]

6. Same stuff that Timothy McVeigh used to blow up the Federal Building...

in Oklahoma City. [link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing#Building_the_bomb|

[paleotn]

11. Nasty stuff, ammonium nitrate...

Works wonders if you're fields are short on nitrogen, just don't set it on fire. One hell of an explosive in bulk. Add some diesel or kerosene and you've got the poor man's WMD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate_disaster

[IronLionZion]

13. The Trump administration has been cutting regulations all over the US

to find efficiencies and help make profits great again. That should be a comfort for Americans who wonder if deadly industrial accidents can happen here.

I hope Lebanon will make some reforms to prevent this sort of thing from happening there again.