The red-orange cloud rising above the site of the explosion in Beirut on August 4 is due to nitrogen dioxide, a byproduct of the explosion of ammonium nitrate. ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images A satellite image of Beirut's port, taken on June 9, 2020. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies A satellite image of Beirut's port taken on August 5, 2020, showing the devastation to the area. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies Very little remains standing in the port area following the huge explosion. AFP via Getty Images This is a closeup satellite image of the grain silos, taken on June 9, 2020. These held up to 85 percent of the country's grain stocks. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies The silos are still upright following the explosion, but the grain inside has been destroyed. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies An oblique satellite view of the silos post-explosion. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies All that remains of the grain silo, as seen from the ground. The orange tinge is likely due to staining by nitrogen dioxide, a byproduct of the reaction that destroyed the port. STR/AFP via Getty Images The Orient Queen passenger ship in Beirut's port as seen from a satellite on July 31. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies The Orient Queen was capsized by the blast. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies An oblique view of the capsized Orient Queen. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies Beyond the port area, there was widespread damage to buildings. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies A satellite view of Beirut's central district after the explosion. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies 300,000 people have been made homeless according to the Governor of Beirut. Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Debris litters the floor of the Lebanese Parliament hemicycle in the central district of the capital Beirut, on August 5, 2020, in the aftermath of the explosion. ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images Another satellite view of damage to Beirut following the explosion of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies Vehicles were destroyed by the shockwave. Hasan Shaban/Bloomberg/Getty Images An overview of Beirut taken from a satellite on August 5, 2020. Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies
On Tuesday, Beirut was devastated by a massive chemical explosion that occurred at the city's port a little after 6pm local time. The blast killed at least 135 people and injured thousands more, and it may have left 300,000 residents homeless after the shockwave shattered glass and damaged buildings across the Mediterranean city. Initial reports blamed improperly stored fireworks for the disaster, but the real culprit soon emerged: 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) that had been seized by Lebanese officials from a freighter in 2013 and stored at a warehouse at the port ever since.
It's now believed that a fire broke out at the warehouse—possibly due to careless welding performed as an anti-theft measure—which caused the stockpile of the chemical, often usRead More – Source
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