53. "Ammonium Nitrate really is some shit. This did not have to happen." In response to In response to 0
Timothy McVeigh used 2 tons to do damage in Oaklahoma.
This blast used 2700 tons.
Also in the blast was a grain storage unit and grain. Grain explosions are a thing but its not clear yet if grain helped the boom.
Beirut also has a food shortage so this blast killed 85% of their grain supply as well as making the wheat stored their totally inedible.
THIS? This did not have to happen. Gov officials knew of/about the location of the ammonium nitrate for 6 fucking years. It was abandoned. It's crazy that this blast sits opposite of the food shortage because ammonium nitrate is a key ingredient in farming.
You want to know whats crazy though? This blast was big but also tame compared to historical ammonium nitrate related explosions. The biggest one happened in the US - 1947 Texas City Disaster 580+ people dead.