Beirut Explosion

[Hibs90]

https://twitter.com/ConflictsW/status/1290676395316850688?s=20

[matty_f]

That's some blast, that! Hope there weren't too many fatalities, however looking at that (if the building was occupied) it's hard to see how there could be anything other than hundreds of lost lives.

[Ozyhibby]

https://twitter.com/palinfoar/status/1290676691833167872?s=21


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[Sir David Gray]

That's huge.

Apparently caused by an explosion in a fireworks warehouse.

[DaveF]

Wow, that's like a nuclear explosion 😲

[RyeSloan]

That's huge.

Apparently caused by an explosion in a fireworks warehouse.

Fireworks!?! That has to be military munitions surely to explode like that?

Unbelievable.

[Ozyhibby]

Fireworks!?! That has to be military munitions surely to explode like that?

Unbelievable.

I think fireworks factory explosions are pretty common and they can be massive. Seem to remember one in China a few years back and there were a lot of fatalities.


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[calumhibee1]

I think fireworks factory explosions are pretty common and they can be massive. Seem to remember one in China a few years back and there were a lot of fatalities.


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The one in China was very similar in scale from the videos I’ve saw of both.

Very sad. Hope the lives lost are as few as possible.

[DaveF]

Seeing some of the other footage this blast is absolutely huge. It's horrendous.

[EAZY-ME]

Jeez that was some blast. Is this an accident or a terrorist attack?

[Bristolhibby]

Mate of mine in Cyprus said he could hear the blast from there.

J

[Sylar]

The videos and photos of the aftermath look absolutely horrendous. Some of them are incredibly graphic, showing bodies strewn all over the floor in what looks like a nuclear wasteland.

Not posting or linking to them on here since it is a family site, though.

The images of devastated buildings, vehicles and infrastructure is truly galling.

There's one video that looks like it was taken from the rooftop of the building directly next to the explosion - definitely looks like fireworks going off inside before it erupts: https://twitter.com/i/status/1290713778510639104 (you might want to turn the volume down on it).

[Billy Whizz]

Jeez that was some blast. Is this an accident or a terrorist attack?

Was going to ask that too

[Sylar]

Jeez that was some blast. Is this an accident or a terrorist attack?

The news stories I read earlier today suggested the first blast was related to a pending announcement in the trial of a former PM (forgive me, my knowledge of Lebanese politics is slender and I only skimmed the article, so I can't remember the details) - however, the second major blast looks like it was an accident (or consequence) of that first blast triggering a firework factory.

Edit: Some details in this BBC report on the explosion: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-53656220

[Pretty Boy]

I find it hard to believe this was a complete accident/coincidence with the Rafik Hariri verdict due imminently.

[Billy Whizz]

The news stories I read earlier today suggested the first blast was related to a pending announcement in the trial of a former PM (forgive me, my knowledge of Lebanese politics is slender and I only skimmed the article, so I can't remember the details) - however, the second major blast looks like it was an accident (or consequence) of that first blast triggering a firework factory.

Edit: Some details in this BBC report on the explosion: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-53656220

That video is awful, unfortunately there’s no way only 10 have died in this
It sadly reminds me of the some the 7/11 explosions

[Sir David Gray]

That video is awful, unfortunately there’s no way only 10 have died in this
It sadly reminds me of the some the 7/11 explosions

Dozens dead and thousands injured according to the BBC.

[hibsbollah]

At least 50 dead and 2500 injured according to The Guardian. But the hospitals are too damaged to take casualties so who knows the true extent just a few hours after the event? Just terrible.

[Vault Boy]

Absolutely devastating. Lebanon and its people just can't catch a break, for want of a better phrase. Here's hoping that those who have been injured are able to recover.

[Speedway]

That was like a mini nuclear bomb.

[hibsbollah]

Absolutely devastating. Lebanon and its people just can't catch a break, for want of a better phrase. Here's hoping that those who have been injured are able to recover.

:agree: I’d barely heard anything about the country for years. But I just listened to a podcast last week about their economic problems. Systemic corruption has led to hyperinflation, only 2 hours electricity a day, mass homelessness etc.

[Peevemor]

:agree: I’d barely heard anything about the country for years. But I just listened to a podcast last week about their economic problems. Systemic corruption has led to hyperinflation, only 2 hours electricity a day, mass homelessness etc.One of my mates set up a NGO to work with kids in the refugee camps in Lebanon. When he tells you about everyday life and the atmosphere of fear and distrust in which these people live it's amazing that some manage to find a degree of normality.

Here's a wee film that another pal made when out visiting him.

https://youtu.be/6RS_DA16Qdo

[DaveF]

2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left in a warehouse for 6 years apparently.

[hibsbollah]

2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left in a warehouse for 6 years apparently.

Anne Budge Fireworks Corp.

[Hibernia&Alba]

2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left in a warehouse for 6 years apparently.

Apparently it was confiscated from a ship in port. So the authorities just left it for six years? They must be mad.

[lord bunberry]

Lots of different videos here. It looks absolutely horrific, I’d imagine just the shockwave will have been lethal.
https://twitter.com/borzou/status/1290728755544064001?s=21

[RyeSloan]

2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left in a warehouse for 6 years apparently.

It had to be something like that...that explosion was just huge.

Early estimates are that it was equivalent to at least 1 kilo ton of TNT!

[StevesFamau5]

Some of the images and videos are just beyond comprehension.

How does that much ammonia nitrate get 'ignored' for so long? Something doesn't add up

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[Vault Boy]

:agree: I’d barely heard anything about the country for years. But I just listened to a podcast last week about their economic problems. Systemic corruption has led to hyperinflation, only 2 hours electricity a day, mass homelessness etc.

What was the podcast called HB?

[lapsedhibee]

2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left in a warehouse for 6 years apparently.

Vaguely remember an explosion in Leith in the late 1960s in a fertiliser factory or warehouse. (Or might be imagining it.)

Edit: might have been in Chancelot flour mill.

[Ozyhibby]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200805/debac3d561d0e9c0999bc32b24ef7c0f.plist


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[Geo_1875]

Vaguely remember an explosion in Leith in the late 1960s in a fertiliser factory or warehouse. (Or might be imagining it.)

Edit: might have been in Chancelot flour mill.

The SAI in Leith imported and processed huge amounts of ammonium nitrate/sulfate but fortunately never had any major incidents. The Chancelot Mill had a few flour bombs go off over the years And the original building was destroyed in the mid 60s.

[lapsedhibee]

The SAI in Leith imported and processed huge amounts of ammonium nitrate/sulfate but fortunately never had any major incidents. The Chancelot Mill had a few flour bombs go off over the years And the original building was destroyed in the mid 60s.

:aok:

[hibsbollah]

What was the podcast called HB?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pa863lNYyvRC70pYxnmL5?si=7JxkmPDZRjyvaRWsaOjD3g

[Ozyhibby]

2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left in a warehouse for 6 years apparently.

For comparison, I read this morning that the Oklahoma City bomb in 1995 used only two tonnes of ammonium nitrate.


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[JeMeSouviens]

For comparison, I read this morning that the Oklahoma City bomb in 1995 used only two tonnes of ammonium nitrate.


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The IRA’s docklands bomb was about 1.5 tons of ammonium nitrate primed with semtex.

[McD]

For comparison, I read this morning that the Oklahoma City bomb in 1995 used only two tonnes of ammonium nitrate.


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wow! That information really gives context to how large and destructive this was

[Ozyhibby]

https://twitter.com/markurban01/status/1290992921043505152?s=21

Seems like the cargo was abandoned by a Russian ship owner.


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[hibsbollah]

Proper old fashioned investigative journalism like the bbc used to do. It’s an incredible story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast)

[blaikie]

Proper old fashioned investigative journalism like the bbc used to do. It’s an incredible story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast)

Really good article, I’ve just arrived here in Beirut (for work) and it’s dire for the locals - the pictures of the devastation don’t do it justice. I just hope the normal working class folk here get the help needed to rebuild their lives.

[overdrive]

The Lebanese PM has now resigned and the entire government has stepped down. The country seems to have had a lot of issues and this has been the tip of the iceberg.

It is a country I’ve wanted to visit for sometime but I don’t think I’ll be going anytime soon.

[Pretty Boy]

Proper old fashioned investigative journalism like the bbc used to do. It’s an incredible story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast)

The BBC publish those long read/full story articles every week and they are generally excellent. I think the entire archive is available online and is well worth spending a few hours working through. Some of them are very troubling reads.

[Mr Grieves]

The Lebanese PM has now resigned and the entire government has stepped down. The country seems to have had a lot of issues and this has been the tip of the iceberg.

It is a country I’ve wanted to visit for sometime but I don’t think I’ll be going anytime soon.

I watched Anthony Bourdain visit there in a parts unknown episode and it looked like a cracking place to visit.


Proper old fashioned investigative journalism like the bbc used to do. It’s an incredible story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/x2iutcqf1g/beirut-blast)


Cheers for posting, that is really good.

[Keith_M]

"But no-one has been held to account.

All attempts to do so would run against the sectarian barrier."



Sad stuff.

[cabbageandribs1875]

Businessmen with ties to Assad linked to Beirut port blast cargo | Beirut explosion | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/15/businessmen-with-ties-to-assad-linked-to-beirut-port-blast-cargo)


The company used to ship a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate to Beirut port, where it caused a devastating explosion last August (https://www.theguardian.com/world/beirut-explosion), has been linked to three influential businessmen with ties to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, a new investigation has found.
The revelations about Savaro Ltd – a London shelf company that was deregistered at Companies House on Tuesday – have amplified suspicions that Beirut had always been the cargo’s intended destination, and not Mozambique, its official endpoint.
They also for the first time raise the possibility that the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of nitrate in Beirut may have been a byproduct of Syrian officials’ attempts to source nitrate to use in weapons.
George Haswani, Mudalal Khuri and his brother Imad are joint Russian-Syrian citizens who have all been sanctioned by the United States for supporting the Syrian leader’s war effort