List of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions

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Since the invention of high explosives, there have been a number of extremely large explosions, many accidental. This list contains the largest known examples, sorted by date. The weight of the explosive does not directly correlate with the size of the explosion, so an accurate ranking of these explosions is impossible.

Contents 1 2001–present 2 1901–2000 3 Before 1900 4 Comparison with large conventional military ordnances 5 Potential Explosions 6 References

[edit] 2001–present

• Candidate explosion (uncertain whether it qualifies yet): 2006 Falk Corporation explosion
• 2005 Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal fire. On 11 December 2005 there was a series of major explosions at the 60 million gallon (273 million litre) capacity Buncefield oil depot near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. The explosions were heard over 100 miles away, as far as the Netherlands and France, and the resulting flames were visible for many miles around the depot. A smoke cloud covered Hemel Hempstead and other nearby towns in southern Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. There were no fatalities, but there were around 43 injuries (two serious).

• Ryongchon disaster: train explosion in North Korea; officially 54 people were killed and 1,249 were injured on April 22, 2004.

• Seest fireworks disaster. On November 3, 2004 about 800 tons of fireworks exploded in the Danish town of Kolding. One firefighter was killed, but the mass evacuation of 2000 people saved many lives. The cost of the damage has been estimated at € 100 million.

• 2001 AZF chemical factory explosion in Toulouse, France. On 21 September 2001 the disaster caused 30 deaths, 2,500 seriously wounded and 8,000 light casualties.

[edit] 1901–2000

• Enschede fireworks disaster. On May 13, 2000 about 177 tons of fireworks exploded in the Dutch town of Enschede. 23 people were killed, and hundreds were injured.

• PEPCON disaster. On May 4, 1988 about 8.5 million pounds (3,855 tons) of ammonium perchlorate either burned or exploded in a fire and several massive explosions near Henderson, Nevada. Two people were killed, and hundreds were injured. The largest explosion was estimated at 250 tons of TNT equivalent¹.

• Minor Scale. Several, if not many, very large deliberate detonations have been carried out in order to simulate the effects of nuclear weapons on vehicles and military material in general. The largest publicly-known was conducted by the United States Defense Nuclear Agency (now part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency) on 27 June 1985 at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The Minor Scale test involved between 4,400 and 4,800 tons of ANFO. Similar tests were reportedly carried out in the 1970s in the far north jungles of Queensland, Australia, to test the feasibility of nuclear weapons for clearing forests in the Vietnam War.

• Ripple Rock, Canada. On April 5, 1958 an underwater mountain was decapitated by the explosion of 1,375 tons of Nitramex 2H (an ammonium nitrate based explosive).

• Heligoland. On April 18, 1947 British engineers attempted to destroy the entire island in what became known as the "British Bang" (or "Big Bang"). 4,061 (another source claims 6,800) tons of surplus World War II ammunition were placed in various locations around the island and set off. The island survived, although the extensive fortifications were destroyed. The blast was listed in the Guiness Book of World Records under largest single explosive detonation (Not to be confused with the Halifax Explosion, which was not a detonation.)

• The Texas City Disaster. On April 16, 1947, the SS Grandcamp, loaded with 8,500 tons of ammonium nitrate, exploded in port at Texas City, Texas; this is generally considered the worst industrial accident in United States history. 581 died, over 5,000 injured.

• The RAF Fauld Explosion. On November 27, 1944 3,670 tons of bombs exploded in a Royal Air Force underground storage facility, killing 78 (officially) and leaving a crater 400 feet deep and three-quarters of a mile wide.

• Port Chicago disaster. On July 17, 1944 in Port Chicago, California the SS E. A. Bryan exploded while loading ammunition bound for Europe, with an estimated 4,606 tons of high explosive, incendiary bombs, depth charges, and other ammunition. Another 429 tons were waiting on nearby rail cars, which also exploded. 320 were killed instantly, another 390 wounded. The disaster is a cause celebre in the African American community as most of the casualties were black and lead to a mutiny over working conditions.

• Bombay Docks Explosion. On April 14, 1944 the SS Fort Stikine carrying around 1,400 tons of explosives (among other goods) caught fire and exploded killing around 800 people.

• The Oppau explosion. On September 21, 1921 a silo filled with 4,500 tonnes of fertilizer exploded, killing around 560, largely destroying Oppau, Germany and causing damage more than 30 km away.

• Halifax Explosion. On December 6, 1917 two ships collided in the harbour of Halifax, Nova Scotia, one carrying 2,653 tonnes of various explosives, mostly picric acid. After the collision the ship caught on fire, drifted into town and eventually exploded. More than 1,900 people were killed and much of downtown Halifax was destroyed. An evaluation of the explosion's force puts it at 2.9 kt of TNT. To date this is the largest artificial non-nuclear explosion in history.

• Battle of Messines. On June 7, 1917 nineteen (of a planned twenty-one) huge mines — containing over 455 tonnes (1,000,000 lb) of ammonal explosives — were set off beneath German lines on the Messines-Wytschaete ridge. Approximately 10,000 Germans were killed, and the explosion was heard as far away as London and Dublin.

• Silvertown explosion. On 19 January 1917 at 18:52 parts of Silvertown in East London were devastated by a massive TNT explosion at the Brunner-Mond munitions factory. 73 people died and hundreds were injured. The blast was felt across London and Essex, and was heard over 100 miles away, with the resulting fires visible for 30 miles.

• Black Tom explosion. On July 30, 1916 1,000 tons of explosives bound for Europe, along with another 50 tons on the Johnson Barge No.17, exploded in Jersey City, New Jersey, a major dock serving New York. There were few deaths, but about 100 injuries; also, the buildings on Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty were damaged, along with much of Jersey City.

• Lochnagar Mine. On July 1, 1916 on the start of Battle of the Somme a charge of 60,000 lbs (26.8 tons) of ammonal explosive was blown at 7.28 am. The explosions constituted what was then the loudest man-made sound in history, and could be heard in London. The mine created a crater 300 feet (81.4 metre) across and 90 feet (27.4 metre) deep, with a lip 15 feet (4.6 metre) high. The crater is known as Lochnagar Crater after the trench from where the main tunnel was started.

[edit] Before 1900

• The Nanaimo mine explosion. On May 3, 1887, in Nanaimo, British Columbia killed 150 miners and was the largest man-made explosion in the world until the Halifax Explosion.

• Mobile magazine explosion. On May 25, 1865, in Mobile, Alabama, in the Southern United States, an ordnance depot or "magazine" exploded, killing some 300 persons. This event occurred just after the end of the American Civil War, during the occupation of the city by victorious Federal troops.

• Delft Explosion. About 40 tons of gunpowder exploded on October 12, 1654, destroying much of the city of Delft in the Netherlands. Over a hundred people were killed and thousands wounded.

[edit] Comparison with large conventional military ordnances

The most powerful non-nuclear weapon ever designed is the MOAB (standing for Massive Ordnance Air Blast, also nicknamed Mother Of All Bombs). It packs 18.7 tons of the H6 explosive, which is 1.35 times as powerful as TNT. This gives the bomb an approximate yield of 0.025 kt. As a matter of comparison, it would require 118 MOABs to equate the Halifax Explosion.

[edit] Potential Explosions

The SS Richard Montgomery is currently wrecked in the Thames estuary with 3,173 tons of explosives still on board. If detonated, it would be larger than the Halifax explosion.

[edit] References