I moved the posts discussing the Beirut explosion in the Gas-related explosions and fire thread into this one, since a dedicated thread to this event is most convenient.
Major General Abbas Ibrahim, head of Lebanon's General Directorate of General Security, reportedly said in a televised interview that the container that was the source of the initial fire and explosion contained confiscated “high explosive materials" and that it would be "naive to describe such an explosion as due to fireworks."
Head of General Security says the blast was caused by a fire in a depot of highly explosive material, including Sodium nitrate, at Beirut's port. He said that material was confiscated from a ship months ago and stored there. #Lebanon
— Dalal Mawadدلال معوض (@dalalmawad) August 4, 2020
21:11 GMT - 'Unacceptable' 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored without safety measures: Aoun
Aoun said that it is "unacceptable" that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored in a warehouse for six years without safety measures, according to statements published on the presidency's Twitter account.
Aoun also pledged that those responsible would face the "harshest punishments" and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared.
From the above one possible explanation of the white cloud that for a short moment forms could be: The object that is moving quickly seems to be the air that forms the shock wave. Behind the shockwave, the pressure drops for a moment as does the temperature. The moist air reaches the point of saturation for a moment, and as a result, the water vapour suspended in the air condenses until the pressure returns to normal.A vapor cone, also known as shock collar or shock egg, is a visible cloud of condensed water that can sometimes form around an object moving at high speed through moist air, for example, an aircraft flying at transonic speeds. When the localized air pressure around the object drops, so does the air temperature. If the temperature drops below the saturation temperature, a cloud forms.
It would seem like it based on the explosion,” Trump said when asked whether the blast was the result of an attack.
I met with some of our great generals, they seem to feel this was not some kind of manufacturing explosion type of event.. they seem to think it was an attack, it was a bomb of some kind
source: Blasts along SR 260 necessary in widening project | ADOTFor the blast in the video above, 179 holes were drilled and then filled with the 7,354 lbs of Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil
Extensive fire was going on for some time before the explosion which attracted attention of many inhabitants in the city. One could speculate that even the fire was orchestrated to do just that (capture the attention) so the psychological effect of the explosion would have more devastating impact but at this stage, without more data, it's a wild speculation.My initial reaction is why are there so many excellent videos of the actual explosion?
My initial reaction is why are there so many excellent videos of the actual explosion? Reminds me of the Da nci ng Is rae lis of 911 fame.
Extensive fire was going on for some time before the explosion which attracted attention of many inhabitants in the city. One could speculate that even the fire was orchestrated to do just that (capture the attention) so the psychological effect of the explosion would have more devastating impact but at this stage, without more data, it's a wild speculation.
It is very strange, it remembers me to the Fertilizer plant explosion y Waco, Tx a few years ago due a comet fragment atracted by the plume.
...baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em fallin' down down down...