What caused the Toulouse explosion?
The explosion was heard 80 km (50 miles) away….Toulouse chemical factory explosion.
| AZF from city center, 4 or 5 km (through tourist public telescope) | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 September 2001 |
| Cause | Sodium dichloroisocyanurate and ammonium nitrate mishandling and reaction |
| Deaths | 31 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 2,500 |
What exploded in the AZF incident?
During the morning of September 21, 2001, a warehouse containing ca. 300 metric tons of production rejects of ammonium nitrate granulates exploded in the AZF/Grande Paroisse plant of Toulouse (France), causing 31 deaths, hundreds of casualties, and enormous damages.
How does ammonium nitrate blast?
Over time, the compound absorbs moisture, which can make the beads stick together into a huge rock, says Sella. When such a large quantity of compacted ammonium nitrate is exposed to intense heat — if, say, an accidental fire breaks out — it can trigger an explosion.
What was the material that exploded in the AZF fertilizer?
ammonium nitrate
Between 20 and 120 tons of ammonium nitrate residue (equivalent to 20 to 40 tons of TNT) detonated on September 21, 2001 in the AZote Fertilisant (AZF) fertilizer plant in Toulouse, causing devastating effects at the site and far beyond.
What material exploded in the AZF fertilizer factory?
The blast was equivalent to 20-40 tons of TNT, producing an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4, and was heard 80 km away (50 miles)….Toulouse chemical factory explosion.
| Date | 21 September 2001 |
|---|---|
| Cause | Sodium dichloroisocyanurate and ammonium nitrate mishandling and reaction |
| Deaths | 31 |
Is ammonium nitrate highly explosive?
Ammonium nitrate, which is used in fertilizers and bomb making, is a salt made from ammonium and nitric acid, and it is highly explosive. The more ammonium nitrate, or NH4-NO3, the bigger its explosive capacity.
Can fertilizer explode by itself?
How could fertilizer possibly explode? Ammonium nitrate, by itself, is relatively harmless. But if added to a fuel source, and subjected to intense stresses like heat and pressure, it can explode.
How many people died at AZF fertilizer?
The explosion was heard 80 km away (50 miles)….Toulouse chemical factory explosion.
| Date | 21 September 2001 |
|---|---|
| Type | Explosion (~20–30 tons of TNT) |
| Cause | Sodium dichloroisocyanurate and ammonium nitrate mishandling and reaction |
| Deaths | 31 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 2,500 |
How do fertilizers explode?
Once ammonium nitrate reaches 210 degrees Celsius, it starts to melt, quickly producing a bunch of gases, mainly nitrous oxide, water vapor and nitrogen gas. If those gases can’t escape, temperatures go up and the reaction gets faster and faster. Now this on its own could lead to an explosion.
Are fertilizers flammable?
Commercial fertilizer typically contains ammonium nitrate, a compound that helps absorb moisture from the atmosphere. While it remains solid at room temperature, it can become extremely volatile if ignited or even heated, causing explosions or fires.
Where was the fertiliser factory explosion in France?
For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. On 21 September 2001, an explosion occurred at the AZF (French initialism for AZote Fertilisant, i.e. nitrogen fertiliser) fertiliser factory in Toulouse, France, belonging to the Grande Paroisse branch of the Total group.
When did the ammonium nitrate explosion in Toulouse happen?
During the morning of September 21, 2001, a warehouse containing ca. 300 metric tons of production rejects of ammonium nitrate granulates exploded in the AZF/Grande Paroisse plant of Toulouse (France), causing 31 deaths, hundreds of casualties, and enormous damages.
Where was the fertiliser plant in Toulouse located?
On 21 September 2001, an explosion occurred at the AZF (French initialism for AZote Fertilisant, i.e. nitrogen fertiliser) fertiliser factory in Toulouse, France, belonging to the Grande Paroisse branch of the Total group. Three hundred tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored (the maximum capacity was 2,000 tonnes) in hangar #221.
How many people died in the fertiliser explosion in Toulouse?
Two production halls of the AZF fertiliser factory, a subsidiary of AtoFina and part of the oil giant TotalFinaElf, literally flew into the air. Initial reports spoke of 29 dead and 34 with severe injuries. A total of 2,400 were injured, most of them with cuts arising from splintered, flying glass.