Beirut - explosion

Is that a gas explosion ?

 

Supposedly stored nitrate.

 

yep, just seen similar on BBC. But something must have triggered it

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-53656220

 

Warehoused old ammonium nitrate it says over here...One has become so jaded and cynical when it comes to events in that part of the world, that one wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be more than just a tragic accident.

No one claiming responsibility, but if it wasn't an accident there's plenty of options, both internally and from surrounding countries.

I'm not even sure what Occam's Razor would suggest in this case -- though it would probably still go for simple tragedy.

RCB

 

I've read this was 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate confiscated from a cargo ship and left in a warehouse for the last 6 years. Obviously someone's give it an ignition by accident and when you have 2750 tons of basically bomb material that is what happens.


A decision maker some where needs to have a long hard look at themselves, who keeps such a substance in a warehouse for 6 years???? Absolutely horrific videos and I've never seen an explosion like it before. I've seen clips of the air which look like poison clouds, these clouds have now apparently made it 30m away from Beirut.

A huge disaster

 

Such a tragic loss of life and horrific injury and property damage, in such a preventable tragedy.

 

Reports in the Daily Mail say it was a stray welder's spark that ignited this. Probably a difference theory in every paper at the moment?

 

Ammonium nitrate is perfectly safe and is used worldwide as a fertilizer in vast quantities even in the UK, To become explosive it needs the addition of fuel oil like diesel etc, This mixture then becomes highly explosive and it was a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil that destroyed Manchester City Center some years ago and is the terrorists favorite explosive material, How the two managed to be stored or mixed is something that will need investigating, There is more to come on this