This is a rough estimate of the damage, using a nuclear blast calculator to determine an ammonium nitrate detonation of what seems to be around 1000 tons (1 Kiloton).
Ignoring the radiation effects factored into this model, the projected injury toll from this is around 3000-4000, which seems about right according to the reports as of time of posting.
Footage prior to the detonation of the material shows a large fire with plumes of smoke rushing out, with bursts of bright lights and sounds coming from the peer. These where fireworks going on off, which were either stored nearby incidentally or placed their on purpose.
At this time, it is not known whether this fire and subsequent blast was started deliberately or not. Local authorities are treating it as an industrial incident, while some western countries leaders have suggested that it was a terrorist attack.
Such an explosion is actually hard to get going, since ammonium nitrate burns more often than it does detonate, which may be the rationale as to why it was stored at the port since 2014. Non-the-less, it is a hazardous material and should be stored safely and away from civilian centres...
Apparently, blast damage has been reported up to 10km away from ground zero, which isn't accounted for in this model, but within the 1.2 km radius, expect forces that can cause serious death and destruction.
Ignoring the radiation effects factored into this model, the projected injury toll from this is around 3000-4000, which seems about right according to the reports as of time of posting.
Footage prior to the detonation of the material shows a large fire with plumes of smoke rushing out, with bursts of bright lights and sounds coming from the peer. These where fireworks going on off, which were either stored nearby incidentally or placed their on purpose.
At this time, it is not known whether this fire and subsequent blast was started deliberately or not. Local authorities are treating it as an industrial incident, while some western countries leaders have suggested that it was a terrorist attack.
Such an explosion is actually hard to get going, since ammonium nitrate burns more often than it does detonate, which may be the rationale as to why it was stored at the port since 2014. Non-the-less, it is a hazardous material and should be stored safely and away from civilian centres...
Apparently, blast damage has been reported up to 10km away from ground zero, which isn't accounted for in this model, but within the 1.2 km radius, expect forces that can cause serious death and destruction.