Beirut explosion

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Some more damage pictures: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/20...t-port/614935/

[Lex Luthier]

Here is a compilation video that shows a lot of the building damage.



Interestingly, there are reports of a second later explosion in another neighborhood, next to former prime minister Saad Hariri's house. I have not seen any corroborating information of that, yet.

[Clusterfrack]

Given that the country is run by terrorists (Hezbollah), a likely explanation is that this explosive material (whatever it might be) was being stored for terrorist purposes.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hezbo...115000724.html

What the frack. In what universe does someone think it’d be just swell to store 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate in the middle of a population center? For six fricken’ years?!

Check out the wiki link for ammonium nitrate disasters upthread and note that the Europeans tried to use dynamite to break up solidified ammonium nitrate quite a few times back in the early 1900’s. People R stupids.

[OlongJohnson]

The aftermath . . .

Attachment 58421

Before pictures are available on Google Earth. Impressive excavation.

[RJ]

You'd be astonished to learn how common that sort of thing really is in that region.

I’m sure you’re right, but...damn.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

When I was a kid there was a large explosion at the Brooklyn docks. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/n...sion-1956.html

I recall hearing it and my dad and I went to the roof of the apartment house to see the 'mushroom cloud'. We lived about 5 miles from the site. Ash and powder fell from the sky. I remember than I got a piece in my eye and my Dad had to wash it out.

[TiroFijo]

Given that the country is run by terrorists (Hezbollah), a likely explanation is that this explosive material (whatever it might be) was being stored for terrorist purposes.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hezbo...115000724.html

The answer is likely simpler...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...man-triggered/

[Clusterfrack]

The answer is likely simpler...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...man-triggered/

Still betting that the ammonium nitrate was for terrorist purposes, past, present, or future.

[JAD]

Still betting that the ammonium nitrate was for terrorist purposes, past, present, or future.

There's that, and then there's the possibility that the initiating event was intentional.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

If you study naval history - quite a lot of warships, minding their own business, just blew up. Mutsu and the Maine for instance.