# Beirut explosion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 4, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267 "2020-08-04T18:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/101 "2020-08-06T20:09:39Z")
All things considered, giving the aid quietly so it won’t be politicized might be for the best. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/102 "2020-08-06T21:07:37Z")
Absolutely, but that’s not S.O.P. under current administration, so we’re left to wonder. In a functional, transparent administration it wouldn’t be an issue. Currently, aw hellz yeah it is. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/103 "2020-08-06T21:16:59Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Assuming there was actually a big dump of fertilizer at the port, and that it actually caused the explosion, either it was contaminated, or there was something else there as well. Not necessarily. AN can just blow up if it catches on fire/is stored incorrectly. Look at the West, TX fertilizer explosion and the Texas City Disaster. Both were un-alloyed AN that blew up because of poor storage and/or poor firefighting. There’s nothing here (so far) that indicates anything else would have had to have happened. And in fact, the orange smoke that they saw prior to the big explosion is something observed in Texas City as well, and probably most other burning AN explosions. > [@scabpicker](#): > > Yeah, I had relatives working the docks the day of the Texas City explosion. When I saw this it immediately reminded me of that and the explosion at West. I told my wife “That’s almost certainly an ammonium nitrate explosion.” I was thinking the same thing- it was too big of a single bang to have been stored weaponry, or anything except for literally tons of explosive, which is one use of ammonium nitrate besides use as fertilizer. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/104 "2020-08-06T21:25:08Z")
> **[Texas City disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The 1947 Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the port of Texas City, Texas, United States, located in Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history and one of history's largest non-nuclear explosions. > The explosion was triggered by a mid-morning fire on board the French-registered vessel SS Grandcamp (docked at port), which detonated her cargo of about 2,300 tons (about 2,100... The above link is to a Wikipedia article about the Texas City disaster of 1947., and until, or if, it is updated, is said to be “one of history’s largest non-nulear explosions.” ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/105 "2020-08-07T19:41:50Z")
Holy crap! That made me jump! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/106 "2020-08-07T22:20:36Z")
One thing I definitely remember from Simon Winchester’s account was that survivors who were near the explosion didn’t hear anything; the same thing happened when Mt. St. Helens erupted. The sound was absorbed by the particulate matter in the atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/107 "2020-08-07T22:23:01Z")
More casualties that we know of, anyway. I suspect a lot of people were simply evaporated in the explosion. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/108 "2020-08-08T00:59:44Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > It’s what likely caused the fire on the _Bonhomme Richard_ . Welding gets hot. Which is why there are supposed to be helpers nearby to watch for fire. And not just somebody next to the welder. If someone is welding or cutting a deck or bulkhead, there has to be someone with a phone and a fire extinguisher on the other side of that deck or bulkhead. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/109 "2020-08-08T03:46:01Z")
[Here’s a list of organizations](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/world/how-to-help-lebanon-beirut.html) to which you can donate to help. If you can’t access the article, I’ll link to two: > [@](#): > > [International Medical Corps](https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/) is deploying medical units and will provide mental health care to those affected in Lebanon. The humanitarian aid organization also provides health services to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and vulnerable Lebanese. You can [donate here](https://give.internationalmedicalcorps.org/page/65328/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=DP~LB21~DPHPL2108). > [@](#): > > [Impact Lebanon](https://www.impactlebanon.org/initiatives/disaster-relief-after-explosion-in-beirut?event=false), a nonprofit organization, has set up a [crowdfunding campaign](https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lebanon-relief?utm_term=PYp7gXzyD) to help organizations on the ground, and is helping to share information about people still missing after the explosion. The group had raised over $3 million as of Wednesday and donated the first $100,000 to the Lebanese Red Cross. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/110 "2020-08-08T04:04:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They’re saying the Ammonia Nitrate was confiscated from a boat six years ago and stored in that building. > > The port officials in charge are being investigated for mishandling hazardous materials. i was chatting with one of my eod buddies who was in the area in the period shortly after they got saddled with the shit and reputedly the officials were not offered enough bribe money to shift it. heads will roll over this if the officials in question are still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/111 "2020-08-08T13:22:49Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > On the far right of the aftermath image you can see a large ship has capsized. Cruise ship. > **[Beirut explosion: cruise ship owner sues 'those responsible', as more...](https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/08/beirut-explosion-cruise-ship-owner-sues-those-responsible-as-more-protests-loom)** > > Legal action could be first of many moves as anger builds over disaster, with protests planned on Saturday ---
**Author:** ![merrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@merrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrick)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/112 "2020-08-08T23:58:21Z")
And from the link, apparently the geniuses in charge of the Port of Beirut were storing _bags of impounded fireworks_ in the warehouse with the ammonium nitrate… ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/113 "2020-08-09T08:16:00Z")
Well, sure - after all, that explosive AN has been OK so far, the fireworks should be, too… 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/114 "2020-08-09T10:14:12Z")
> [@bump](#): > > and the Texas City Disaster. Both were un-alloyed AN that blew up because of poor storage and/or poor firefighting. The Texas City Disaster was specifically waxed AN. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/115 "2020-08-10T03:42:19Z")
Sure, but that didn’t have anything to do with it blowing up or catching fire because of contamination. Whatever wax or clay or whatever was there as anti-caking additives. My point was that ammonium nitrate will just spontaneously catch fire and blow up with poor storage and firefighting. No nefarious or weird chemical goings-on needed. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/116 "2020-08-10T06:53:56Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > i was chatting with one of my eod buddies who was in the area in the period shortly after they got saddled with the shit and reputedly the officials were not offered enough bribe money to shift it. > > heads will roll over this if the officials in question are still alive. The port officials claim that they asked the court that impounded the stuff for permission to give it to the military or a company that handles such things multiple times, with nary a response. We’ll see. I can imagine the corrupt officials at the top would be eager to blame it all on the port officials. The mobs seem to have some clue about who is really responsible, though. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/117 "2020-08-10T16:08:12Z")
Woah > **[Lebanon's government steps down in wake of Beirut blast | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/10/middleeast/lebanon-government-future-intl/index.html)** > > Lebanon's government stepped down on Monday night, less than a week after a massive explosion in Beirut killed more than 170 people and wounded more than 6000, sparking days of violent protests. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/118 "2020-08-11T07:50:03Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > I’m surprised the loss if life is so low. There are eyewitness videos coming out of people in the devastation zone getting hit with the shockwave point blank and surviving. [Like this one](https://youtu.be/DdSHRbSZkwc) [And this one](https://youtu.be/Bi8Jmy_mqec) Apparently outside of a couple hundred meters, the blast is powerful enough to rip apart rigid structures but not strong enough to kill a person. I find that amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/119 "2020-08-11T07:58:58Z")
It’s like a strong wind knocking down a tree but not the grass and shrubs around it - the grass and shrubs are more yielding. A building resists moving until it breaks. A human being is just shoved through the air which may or may not be fatal depending on a bunch of factors, such as how far from the explosion they’re standing. While the people who took those videos were hit directly by the shockwave they were some distance from the origin, by which point the force of the shockwave had diminished sufficiently to be survivable. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267/120 "2020-08-11T08:32:00Z")
I get it. I just find it amazing! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beirut-explosion/917267.md?page=7)