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It was shocking news coverage to see the blast that occurred in Beirut, and a timely reminder of the potential devastation of bombs and explosives on populations and people’s lives.
I hope it stands as visual to all around the world, that finding peace in any conflict should always be the only solution.
It wasn’t a bomb, it was caused by a store of ammonium nitrate.
The footage has been horrendous to watch, and I agree with you that given it’s appearance, it should be a reminder of how devastating explosives, such as bombs can be! It really did seem like a nuclear bomb to the untrained eye as the news was breaking.
Terrible, just terrible! The injuries have been life changing to many.
What is ammonium nitrate used for? It seems crazy that it was taken off a ship because it was deemed to unsafe, yet stored for 6 years in an area where people work and live!
Ammonium nitrate is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertiliser. It's relatively stable under most conditions and is inexpensive to manufacture, making the chemical a popular alternative to other, more expensive nitrogen sources.
It seems like it’s safe if stored and used correctly
Surely ammonium nitrate is moved around on the seas all the time, why wasn’t it allowed to continue on its journey? What is the point of taking such a substance that is considered unsafe and then storing it for years in an area where people live and work without a plan to dispose of it!
If it is safe when stored correctly and moved around on the sea how did it explode?