A huge explosion ripped through the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday evening local time, leaving dozens dead and thousands injured, according to the country’s officials. The toll is expected to continue to climb.
Video footage went viral on social media platforms showing smoke billowing over the skyline and red smoke following a larger blast. It was horribly reminiscent of the blasts occurring in the Chinese city of Tianjin in 2015 (see ChemLinked news [1]).
The authorities have launched an investigation to identify the exact cause of the explosion. It is now linked to 2,750 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate which was stored unsafely in a warehouse at the city's port.
Ammonium nitrate is typically used in agricultural fertilizers or bombs. It is not explosive on its own, but an oxidizer which can react violently with other incompatible materials, such as flammable and combustible liquids. The substance ignites only when specific conditions are met, which can be difficult to achieve.
Experts are also worried about lingering pollutants, including nitrogen oxides which can be massively produced by such an ammonium nitrate explosion.
