Tuesday, 04th Aug, around 6PM local time a huge explosion rocked the port city of Beirut sending up mushroom clouds and generating powerful shockwave. Around 80 killed and 1000s injured. The blast was so powerful it was felt as far away as in Cypress which is 150 miles away.
2750 tons of ammonium nitrate was stored in a port warehouse since 2013, the cargo was impounded from a ship at the Beirut port. Investigation is taking place to find the trigger for this devastating explosion.
I lived and worked in warzones, witnessed multiple explosions/airstrikes (Lebanon 2006, Syria 2014, Iraq 2015, Yemen 2017) This explosion, by far, was the most devastating I have ever experienced. #Beirut #BreakingNews
— Ralph El Hage (@RalphUNICEF) August 4, 2020
GRAPHIC CONTENT: A massive blast in port warehouses near central Beirut storing highly explosive material killed dozens and injured thousands, and sent shockwaves that shook the ground across the Lebanese capital https://t.co/hLoSKuiTew pic.twitter.com/PZAJyTmOWB
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 5, 2020
Big explosion now in beirut Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/hPZcAA9D1q
— Ralph El Hage (@RalphUNICEF) August 4, 2020
Ammonium nitrate is listed in IMDG Code as below.
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Hi Shashi, thnx
We handle a lot of Urea (Fertiliser) in our country and being stored in large quantities at all levels from warehouses, shops to farmer’s homes, I never saw any Fire/Explosion hazard warning. I was wondering if Urea pose any type of hazard (direct or indirect) as explosives can be made by it.
Vishal,
No special hazards, urea is a low-fire risk cargo.