Ammonium nitrate: what is the chemical blamed for blast in Lebanese capital?
The likely cause of the huge blast in Beirut on Tuesday appears to have been the highly reactive chemical ammonium nitrate.
Lebanon's prime minister, Hassan Diab, said 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded after lying unsecured in a warehouse for six years, tallying with reports that a ship carrying a similar quantity of the chemical had unloaded its cargo at the port in 2013. It remains unclear what caused the chemical to ignite.
AFP is quoting the governor of Beirut, Marwan Abboud, as saying the damage from the port blast has extended over half of the city, with the cost of damage likely above $3bn.
He has also upped his previous estimate of the number of "homeless" to 300,000, which is close to the total population of the central part of the capital. Again, we are not sure if he is talking about homelessness or people whose homes have been damaged.
As Death Toll Rises After Deadly Blast, a Search for Answers and Survivors: Live Updates:
- Search is on for survivors after blast kills more than 100.
- Some 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes. But amid the devastation, stories of heroism.
- The science behind the blast: Why fertilizer packs a punch.
- Even as hospitals were destroyed and staffers killed, doctors and nurses raced to help.
- I was bloodied and dazed. Beirut strangers treated me like a friend.
- In maps: A two-mile radius around the blast was flattened.
- Beirut's landmark downtown is in shambles. Again.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Wednesday August 05 2020, @06:24PM (1 child)
Probably Sodium or Magnesium. Magnesium is hard to ignite but once it gets going it is hot enough to decompose H2O in to O2 and H2, which it then burn to get even hotter. Sodium will ignite and burn in contact with water.
You mean the MSDS placards that where on the sides of the BURNING trailer and covered in flames, possibly already burned off when the firefighters arrived? It takes time to call a company on a weekend and actually get through to someone who can give you information about what might be in a truck trailer. How long was the video?
containing/controlling fires is their job. They put their lives on the line to protect you and your property and that of your family and friends.
Water might have been all they had on hand at the time, not all engine companies have foam or other specialized fire suppression systems.Since you didn't mention the fire spreading to the warehouse and burning it to the ground it would seem they did a good job containing the blaze until the needed equipment arrived.
"dumbass macho"? based on what? firefighters doing their jobs to the best of their ability with the limited information and equipment they had at hand?
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday August 05 2020, @06:53PM
You may feel the need to stick up for firemen in general. Not necessary. In comparison to this Podunk Ohio fire department, the Houston Fire Department responded to a chemical emergency for me on a Saturday morning. Their command truck had every MSDS there is, right there in the truck. They KNEW Chemtrec's number. And, I promise, if you call Chemtrec ANYTIME, you'll get a prompt response. 24/7/365, 366 on leap years.
Not every fire department in this country is equally well trained.
When the reporters arrived, some time after the fire department arrived, the placards were still visible in their footage. The fire department had no excuse for not identifying the material in the trailer.
And, to answer your other question - no, there was no warehouse, no residential area close at hand. It was just a typical trucking company lot, full of trucks, trailers, and an office building with an attached 4 or 5 bay garage.
BTW - foam won't extinguish all flammable metals. Navy protocol is, for a magnesium fire, you push the aircraft overboard. You don't even make any serious attempt to extinguish it. Identify the source of the fire, if it's the magnesium, you deep six it. The foam and/or water will be used to extinquish any fires that were caused by the flammable metal burning, AFTER that metal is out of the way.