Worst ammonium nitrate explosions
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2 4 3 1 6 5
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1 1921: Explosion of 4,500 tonnes of ammonium sulphate and nitrate fertiliser at plant in Oppau, Germany, kills 565 people
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2 1947: Fire on ship loaded with 2,300 tonnes of chemical sets off series of explosions in port of Texas City. At least 581 people killed and more than 5,000 injured in deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history
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3 2001: Explosion at warehouse containing some 300 tonnes of ammonium nitrate kills 30 and injures 2,500 in Toulouse, France
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4 2013: Ammonium nitrate stored at Texas fertiliser plant near Waco detonates in blast that kills 14 and injures around 200
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5 2015: Explosions involving ammonium nitrate and other chemicals kill 173 people in port of Tianjin, China
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6 2020: Explosion caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored insecurely at
Beirut port kills at least 137 people and injures around 5,000. Dozens are missing and 300,000 have been left homeless
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Sources: Reuters, BBC Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS