Nitrate Warehouse Explosion In Beirut

[ealingfox]

8 hours ago, urban.spaceman said:

Anyone found a way to blame Israel yet?

 

Bit rich given you were peddling unsubstantiated accusations about Hezbollah in another thread.

[Finnegan]

7 hours ago, AjcW said:

Potentially stupid question but this seems the best place to ask it...

 

If we take the current line that it was a **** tonne of nitrate... you assume that’s all stored in various containers throughout this warehouse. 
 

What exactly makes something go off like that in one huge blast, when you consider it would be in lots of separate places within the warehouse? Probably being incredibly thick but wouldn’t you expect lots of separate smaller explosions? From some of the videos I assume that’s what I can see from the small spark like explosions before the huge one? 
 

in my head the only way something goes bang like that is if it’s contained in one place... or vessel... IE a huge explosive device. 

 

It's an extremely volatile substance when it comes to heat. 

 

If you look at the Wikipedia link I posted earlier you'll see quite a long history of ammonium nitrate accidents that all start more or less the same way, an accidental fire or some excessive heat. 

 

Tianjin was the most recent before this one and was very similar, there a spontaneous fire caused by hot dry conditions caused a smaller explosion that triggered the larger one when it spread to the rest of the nitrate. 

 

So, yes, you're right. That's what the little multiple explosions are before it escalated and the whole thing goes off. Just a chain reaction. 

Edited 5 August 2020 by Finnegan

[Nuneatonfox in Manchester]

10 hours ago, urban.spaceman said:

Anyone found a way to blame Israel yet?

Thought exactly the same thing.

 

Clearly a monumentally tragic accident.

[StanSP]

 

 

[stripeyfox]

15 minutes ago, StanSP said:

 

 

unbelievable really

 

It destroyed the grain elevator as well which will cause food supply problems

 

They are going to need a lot of international support and aid to get through this

 

[spacemunky]

That's nuckin' futs!

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, stripeyfox said:

unbelievable really

 

It destroyed the grain elevator as well which will cause food supply problems

 

They are going to need a lot of international support and aid to get through this

 

Which sadly given their political leaning won’t come.