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What was the explosion in Beirut equivalent to?
The new assessment by the Sheffield engineers, which is published in the journal Shock Waves , found that the size of the explosion was the equivalent of between 500-1100 tonnes of TNT – around 1/20th of the size of the atomic bomb that was used on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and is one of the largest non-nuclear …
How much ammonium nitrate caused the Beirut explosion?
An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history.
How many pounds of ammonium nitrate are in Beirut?
Q: What likely happened in Beirut? A: According to the reports, approximately 2,750 metric tons (about 6 million pounds) of stored ammonium nitrate exploded as a result of a fire providing sufficient heat to detonate this explosive.
What caused the 2020 Beirut explosion?
The initial explosion, at about 18:07 local time (15:07 UTC), likely triggered by the stored fireworks, sent up a large cloud of smoke and a crackle of bright firework flashes, and heavily damaged the structure of Warehouse 12 itself with a force equivalent to around 1.5-2.5 tons of TNT.
How much does ammonium nitrate cost?
| Type of Formulation | Percent Nitrogen | Cost/Pound |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonium nitrate | 34-0-0 | $.54/lb |
| Anhydrous ammonia | 82-0-0 | $.32/lb |
| Ammonium sulfate | 21-0-0 | $.63/lb |
| Urea | 46-0-0 | $.39/lb |
How much is Beirut fertilizer?
On August 4, 2020, nearly 2,750 tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded in the seaport in Beirut, killing more than 200 people, injuring more than 6,000, and displacing thousands from their homes.
Can you still buy ammonium nitrate fertilizer?
But in the US, you can buy ammonium nitrate on Amazon, at gardening stores, or from agricultural suppliers. The US Department of Homeland Security is required to “regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility” to prevent people from using it for terrorism.
How much explosive is ammonium nitrate?
The TNT equivalence of ammonium nitrate-based improvised explosives ranges from 25\% to 100\% depending on the factors referred to earlier, for example, packing density and degree of confinement.