What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical that exploded in Beirut?
4 years, 5 months ago

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical that exploded in Beirut?

ABC  

The Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked on Tuesday evening local time by an explosion that has killed more than 100 people and injured thousands more. The country's prime minister, Hassan Diab, said the blast was caused by around 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored near the city's cargo port. Beirut's ammonium nitrate stockpile Lebanon's Prime Minister says about 2,750 tonnes of the highly explosive material was stored in a "dangerous warehouse". Ammonium nitrate decomposition can be set off if an explosion occurs where it's stored, if there is an intense fire nearby. Residents' health at risk In Beirut, it has been reported 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored in a warehouse for six years without proper safety controls.

Explosion Beirut Ammonium Nitrogen Oxides Nitrate Stored  tonnes  prills  oxygen  explosion  chemical  nitrate  stored  exploded  present  oxides  ammonium  beirut

History of this topic

Infographic: How big was the Beirut explosion?
2 years, 5 months ago

Infographic: How big was the Beirut explosion?

Al Jazeera  

It has been two years since a massive explosion shook Lebanon’s capital, killing 218 people and injuring 7,000. On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut ripped through Lebanon’s capital, killing 218 people, injuring 7,000 and leaving 300,000 displaced. Here are some key events since August 4, 2020: August 4, 2020 – Beirut port explosion. November …

What we still don’t know about Beirut’s port explosion
3 years, 5 months ago

What we still don’t know about Beirut’s port explosion

CNN  

Beirut, Lebanon CNN — It’s been a year since one of the world’s largest ever non-nuclear explosions ripped through Lebanon’s capital, killing more than 200 people. At just after 6 p.m. on August 4, 2020, hundreds of metric tons of ammonium nitrate ignited, sparking the massive blast in the city’s port. “Speculation that Hezbollah may have wanted to destroy the …

‘Nothing was done’: HRW blasts officials in Beirut blast report
3 years, 5 months ago

‘Nothing was done’: HRW blasts officials in Beirut blast report

Al Jazeera  

Rights group calls for international fact-finding mission and sanctions, slams officials’ failure for years to remove explosives from Lebanese capital’s port. Beirut, Lebanon – Human Rights Watch has blasted Lebanese political and security officials for not removing explosive ammonium nitrate that caused a devastating explosion at Beirut’s port last year and said an international investigation and targeted sanctions were the …

A year on, politicians accused of hindering Beirut blast justice
3 years, 5 months ago

A year on, politicians accused of hindering Beirut blast justice

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups and families of victims accuse officials of stalling the probe into the devastating port explosion. The officials include General Security chief Major-General Abbas Ibrahim, State Security head Major-General Tony Saliba, ex-Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, former Public Works Ministers Ghazi Zeiter and Yousef Finianos, and ex-Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. “Parliament is very interested in lifting immunity, but in …

Syrian businessmen linked to firm that bought Beirut explosives
3 years, 11 months ago

Syrian businessmen linked to firm that bought Beirut explosives

Al Jazeera  

One of the businessmen had previously been accused of trying to procure ammonium nitrate for the Syrian government. Open-source information on the UK website – first aired by Lebanese documentary filmmaker Firas Hatoum on local news channel Al Jadeed on Tuesday – shows that companies formerly directed by Haswani and Imad Khuri have the same stated addresses as Savaro Limited, …

Lebanon asks Interpol to detain two Russians over Beirut blast
4 years, 3 months ago

Lebanon asks Interpol to detain two Russians over Beirut blast

Al Jazeera  

Interpol asked to detain captain and owner of ship that carried thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate to Beirut seven years ago. The lead investigator into the August blast at Beirut’s port that killed almost 200 and wounded thousands has issued arrest warrants for the captain and owner of a ship that carried thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate to …

Huge fire at Beirut port brought under control
4 years, 4 months ago

Huge fire at Beirut port brought under control

Al Jazeera  

No injuries reported from the second blaze this week at the site of explosion that killed nearly 200 people last month. Beirut, Lebanon – A towering inferno at Beirut’s port caused widespread panic in the Lebanese capital, just two days after another fire was put out at the site of an enormous explosion that killed nearly 200 people last month. …

Lebanon: Over 4 tonnes of ammonium nitrate found near Beirut port
4 years, 4 months ago

Lebanon: Over 4 tonnes of ammonium nitrate found near Beirut port

Al Jazeera  

Lebanon’s army said it found the chemical near the entrance to Beirut port, the site of a powerful explosion last month. Lebanon’s army has found 4.35 tonnes of ammonium nitrate near the entrance to Beirut port, the site of a powerful explosion last month, caused by a large stockpile of the same highly explosive chemical, that killed 191 people. The …

‘There’s something strange’: Baffling questions, conspiracy theories grow after Beirut blast
4 years, 4 months ago

‘There’s something strange’: Baffling questions, conspiracy theories grow after Beirut blast

LA Times  

An aerial view shows the port of Beirut on Aug. 7, three days after a massive explosion that killed about 180 people. Since a stockpile of more than 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate blew up on the edge of Beirut this month, infuriated residents have been struggling to understand how the blast happened, and just what — or who — …

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast
4 years, 4 months ago

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The 10 firefighters who received the call a bit before 6 p.m. about a big fire at the nearby port of Beirut could not know what awaited them. The brigade of nine men and one woman could not know about the stockpile of ammonium nitrate warehoused since 2013 along a busy motorway in the heart of a densely …

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast
4 years, 4 months ago

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The 10 firefighters who received the call shortly before 6 p.m. — a big fire at the nearby port of Beirut — could not know what awaited them. ___ Seven years ago, a ship named the Rhosus set out from the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi carrying 2,755.5 tons of ammonium nitrate destined for an explosives company …

Beirut explosion: Remembering victims of the deadly blast
4 years, 4 months ago

Beirut explosion: Remembering victims of the deadly blast

Al Jazeera  

It has been one week since a massive explosion caused by the ignition of some 2,750 tonnes of stored ammonium nitrate devastated Lebanon’s capital. Thousands of people on Tuesday gathered in Beirut where a moment of silence was held by for the victims of the catastrophic explosion, which killed at least 171 people, according to the health ministry’s latest tally. …

Beirut explosion impact: 740 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate being moved from Chennai to Hyderabad
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut explosion impact: 740 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate being moved from Chennai to Hyderabad

India TV News  

Taking action after Lebanon's Beirut deadly explosions that devastated the city killing hundreds and injuring thousands of people, Ammonium Nitrate weighing 740 tonnes stored in 37 containers at a container freight station is now being moved to Hyderabad in a phased manner, said an official of the CFS. 740-tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate arrived in India in 2015 from Korea A …

Beirut explosions: Port hanger ‘known to be dangerous’ with fireworks stored alongside stockpile, workers confirm
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut explosions: Port hanger ‘known to be dangerous’ with fireworks stored alongside stockpile, workers confirm

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The stockpile of ammonium nitrate …

Officials long warned of explosive chemicals at Beirut port
4 years, 5 months ago

Officials long warned of explosive chemicals at Beirut port

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — At least 10 times over the past six years, authorities from Lebanon’s customs, military, security agencies and judiciary raised alarm that a massive stockpile of explosive chemicals was being kept with almost no safeguard at the port in the heart of Beirut, newly surfaced documents show. President Michel Aoun, in office since 2016, said Friday that he was …

Australian Beirut explosion victim identified as two-year-old Isaac Oehlers
4 years, 5 months ago

Australian Beirut explosion victim identified as two-year-old Isaac Oehlers

ABC  

The Australian victim of the Beirut explosion has been identified as two-year-old Isaac Oehlers. Key points: Two-year-old Isaac's family say they are heartbroken by their loss Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to almost 160, with people still missing The explosion was the biggest in Lebanon's history and caused billions of dollars in damage His family have issued a statement …

After Beirut, Must Chennai Worry About Ammonium Nitrate Stockpile?
4 years, 5 months ago

After Beirut, Must Chennai Worry About Ammonium Nitrate Stockpile?

The Quint  

A consignment of 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that has been lying in a Chennai customs warehouse for around five years is raising some red flags just days after Beirut's catastrophic blast. On 4 August, an estimated 2,750-tonnes of ammonium nitrate, that had been stored reportedly for over six years in a port warehouse in Beirut, without proper safety protocols, …

After deadly explosion in Beirut, ammonium nitrate fertiliser under regulatory scrutiny again
4 years, 5 months ago

After deadly explosion in Beirut, ammonium nitrate fertiliser under regulatory scrutiny again

Firstpost  

For many reasons other than regulation, farmers have switching to using urea over ammonium nitrate over the years, analysts say. Widely used and produced The world’s annual production of ammonium nitrate is over 20 million tonnes, which means the amount that exploded in Beirut is made almost every hour.Storing hundreds or even thousands of tonnes in the same place is …

Beirut blast leaves 135 dead: Lebanese authorities probe explosion amid rising anger, calls for change
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut blast leaves 135 dead: Lebanese authorities probe explosion amid rising anger, calls for change

Firstpost  

Anger is mounting against the various political factions, including the Hezbollah militant group, that have ruled the country since the 1975-1990 civil war. Beirut: Lebanese officials targeted in the investigation of the massive blast that tore through Beirut sought to shift blame for the presence of explosives at the city’s port, and the visiting French president warned Thursday that without …

700 Tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate Stored in Chennai Safe, E-auction Done: Customs after Beirut Blast
4 years, 5 months ago

700 Tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate Stored in Chennai Safe, E-auction Done: Customs after Beirut Blast

News 18  

Customs authorities on Thursday sought to allay fears over safety regarding the storage of nearly 700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at a container freight station near Chennai. The chemical worth Rs 1.80 crore was seized from a Tamil Nadu-based importer in 2015 who had allegedly declared it as fertiliser grade although it was an explosive grade, a Customs official said. …

Govt orders urgent verification of explosives in ports, warehouses after Beirut blast
4 years, 5 months ago

Govt orders urgent verification of explosives in ports, warehouses after Beirut blast

Live Mint  

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs directed customs and field formations to immediately verify and confirm the within 48 hours that any hazardous and explosive material lying in warehouses and ports across the country meets all safety and fire standards and presents no danger to life and property. A huge blast in port warehouses near central Beirut storing …

Beirut explosion: Trump doubles down on claim that blast may have been an attack
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut explosion: Trump doubles down on claim that blast may have been an attack

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump appeared to …

Countdown to Beirut Blast Began 6 Years Ago With a Leaky, Troubled Ship
4 years, 5 months ago

Countdown to Beirut Blast Began 6 Years Ago With a Leaky, Troubled Ship

News 18  

The countdown to catastrophe in Beirut started six years ago when a troubled, Russian-leased cargo ship made an unscheduled stop at the city’s port. “I was horrified,” said Boris Prokoshev, the ship’s 70-year-old retired Russian captain, about the accident, speaking in a phone interview from Sochi, Russia, a Black Sea resort town just up the coast from where the ammonium …

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical fertiliser blamed for the Beirut explosion?
4 years, 5 months ago

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical fertiliser blamed for the Beirut explosion?

Firstpost  

The Beirut blast was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history, according to Brian Castner, lead weapons investigator for Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Team Lebanese officials say that thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the port in Beirut caused the powerful explosion that devastated the city on Tuesday, killing more than 130 people, …

Lebanon Officials Ignored Warnings About Chemical Tied to Blast
4 years, 5 months ago

Lebanon Officials Ignored Warnings About Chemical Tied to Blast

Live Mint  

The volatile chemical suspected of causing the deadly explosion that flattened Lebanon’s main port had been lying in storage there for six years despite warnings from customs officials about its hazards, documents show. Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Tuesday described the storage of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate at the port as “unacceptable” and vowed those responsible would be held …

Beirut blast: Confiscated ammonium nitrate from ship in 2014 could have sparked deadly explosion
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut blast: Confiscated ammonium nitrate from ship in 2014 could have sparked deadly explosion

India Today  

The mysterious blast at the Beirut port that has already killed over 100 people and wounded thousands has put the lens of suspicion on a ship impounded with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in 2014 raising questions on authorities. It’s still unclear what triggered the explosion but the unloaded ammonium nitrate from the ship dumped in a warehouse at the …

Fireworks, ammonium nitrate likely fueled Beirut explosion
4 years, 5 months ago

Fireworks, ammonium nitrate likely fueled Beirut explosion

Associated Press  

Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest. Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi, in comments to a local TV station, made no mention of ignited fireworks but said it appeared the blast was caused by the detonation of more …

Lebanon explosion: What is ammonium nitrate, which authorities claim to be behind the blast
4 years, 5 months ago

Lebanon explosion: What is ammonium nitrate, which authorities claim to be behind the blast

The Hindu  

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said was the cause of the Beirut blast, is an odourless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertiliser that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades. When combined with fuel oils, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used by the construction industry, but also by insurgent groups like the …

Ammonium Nitrate, Which Caused Beirut Blast, Has a Bloodied Past With Several Industrial Accidents
4 years, 5 months ago

Ammonium Nitrate, Which Caused Beirut Blast, Has a Bloodied Past With Several Industrial Accidents

News 18  

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said was the cause of the Beirut blast, is an odorless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades. When combined with fuel oils, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used by the construction industry, but also by insurgent groups like the …

Beirut's explosion was a massive store of ammonium nitrate blowing up. Here's what else we know
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut's explosion was a massive store of ammonium nitrate blowing up. Here's what else we know

ABC  

Video of a massive explosion tearing through Beirut makes for shocking viewing. But Lebanon's Interior Minister said the blast was a store of about 2,750 tonnes of seized ammonium nitrate blowing up. During a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said details about the "dangerous warehouse" would be made public. The explosion came amid ongoing tensions between …

Beirut blast: Tracing the explosives that tore the capital apart
4 years, 5 months ago

Beirut blast: Tracing the explosives that tore the capital apart

Al Jazeera  

Letters show officials knew of danger posed by ammonium nitrate cargo at Beirut port six years before deadly blast. Beirut, Lebanon – It was only after a massive explosion ripped through Beirut that most people in Lebanon learned about the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in a hangar at the city’s port. Analysis of public records and documents published …

Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousands
4 years, 5 months ago

Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousands

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. President Donald Trump said the U.S. “stands ready to assist Lebanon,” and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo extended his “deepest condolences.” “Our team in Beirut has reported to me the …

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