So Lebanon just exploded

[Steinmetzify]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqKn_3iJOP4[/youtube]

[JiveTurkey]

Holy shit!

[Ostinato Rubato]

What were they making in THAT place?

[Ry Manchu]

They say that they felt this blast in Cyprus 180 miles away. It was measured as a 3 kiloton explosion. There was ammonium nitrate stored in the area. They say it was 2700 tons of ammonium nitrate. This reminds me of the Texas City explosion of 1947. That one was 7700 tons of ammonium nitrate, but roughly the same effect based on pictures.

2700 @ .42 = 1.13 kilotons.

[fretless]

that was a big one

[RyanDistortion]

"fireworks factory"

[itchyfingers]

How many blocks do you think got leveled? I saw this on social media today and thought it was fake. Horrific explosion.

[Ry Manchu]

How many blocks do you think got leveled? I saw this on social media today and thought it was fake. Horrific explosion.

I'd say that the crater is at least 100 meters wide and 30 meters deep. Homes are damaged up to 2 kilometers and windows are blown out in a very high percentage at 5 km and a much lower percentage at 10 km. As for leveled blocks, that's hard to say. The 1959 Roseburg blast was 4.5 tons of ammonium nitrate and it took out 8 blocks. This was 600 times as much ammonium nitrate. I'd say at least a 30 block radius or 60 block diameter.

[IndyWS6]

The loss of life and property is certainly tragic, but watching the videos is absolutely fascinating. The instantaneous power is hard to fathom.

Is it common to store that much ammonium nitrate in one place? What is considered safe storage (I don't know the chemistry - stability, potential ignition sources, etc.). Assuming it was an accident, that's negligence of the highest order. Makes you wonder where that stuff is being stored, how secure it is and who's responsible for it...

[Pepi]

HOLY SHIT ... Now I see the big deal about the Fed's being worried about the use of 'public illegal' fireworks in Portland and Seattle. Fucking mushroom cloud

[Marc G]

man... that place got leveled.....



The Tall building in the back is where I believe the fire started.... not sure how it's still standing to be honest... but the damage all around is insane....

[crankyrayhanky]

Wow. Crazy.

[Pepi]

Post

[Marc G]

Post

The videos are truly terrifying.... I can't imagine what it would have been like to be there when that shockwave hit...

[itchyfingers]

The loss of life and property is certainly tragic, but watching the videos is absolutely fascinating. The instantaneous power is hard to fathom.

Is it common to store that much ammonium nitrate in one place? What is considered safe storage (I don't know the chemistry - stability, potential ignition sources, etc.). Assuming it was an accident, that's negligence of the highest order. Makes you wonder where that stuff is being stored, how secure it is and who's responsible for it...

I hear you man, the science of an event like this is interesting. I read the ammonium nitrate was confiscated from a ship in 2013 and its been sitting there in storage at the port ever since. I know that by itself, ammonium nitrate is relatively safe and stable, but if it isn't ventilated properly, or if it gets mixed with oil, it becomes a time bomb. I wonder if any evidence will be left to determine blame.

[fretless]

[IndyWS6]

Holy shit!

[primeholy]

Thought thread title said Lebron.

[Devin]

[clipless bumper]

Yeah, the explosion was in the lower building to the right of the tall one. I think the tall one was a silo storage complex, so even though it was decimated, it is partially still standing.

Maybe it was fireworks on the right, and ammonium nitrate in one or more of the silos?? Probably not the best combination.

[itchyfingers]

That is one big hole in the ground! Read an article that said if this had happened in Manhattan, Wall St would not be standing.