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Beirut Port Explosion - UNIDIR
Beirut Port Explosion - UNIDIR
Beirut Port Explosion - UNIDIR
BOB SEDDON
HIMAYU SHIOTANI
THE BEIRUT PORT EXPLOSION 1
NOTE
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply
the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations
concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning
the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in the publication are the sole
responsibility of the individual authors. They do not necessary reflect the views or opinions of the
United Nations, UNIDIR, its staff members or sponsors.
CITATION
Seddon. B & Shiotani. H. 2020 “The Beirut Port Explosion: Understanding Its Impact and How to
Reduce Risks from Explosive Precursors”, Geneva, Switzerland: UNIDIR.
ABOUT UNIDIR
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded,
autonomous institute within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide
focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action
on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to
develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems.
1 Introduction......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Purpose and Audience............................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Scope and Limitations............................................................................................................................................................. 3
3 Explosions in Urban and Built-up Areas: the Ripple Effect and Socio-Economic Risks....................................7
3.1 Blast and its Reverberating Effects in Populated Areas.................................................................................................7
3.2 Socio-Economic and Political Risks.....................................................................................................................................7
5 Technical Recommendations...................................................................................................................................................... 12
5.1 Dangerous Goods Classification of Ammonium Nitrate.............................................................................................. 12
5.2 Implications for Transport of Cargo and Handling of Ammonium Nitrate in Ports.............................................. 12
5.3 Safety Distances for Ammonium Nitrate......................................................................................................................... 12
HIMAYU SHIOTANI is the Programme Head of the Conventional Arms Programme at the
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). Since 2014 he has led the
Institute’s research on conventional weapons to promote knowledge on the regulation of the
global arms trade, armed violence reduction, explosive hazard risk mitigation, and weapon
and ammunition management in West and Central Africa, as well as in Iraq and Somalia. Prior
to his work with UNIDIR, he was a Researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation
Studies (CNS) in Monterey, California. He holds a master’s degree in International Policy
Studies, with a Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies, from the Middlebury Institute of
International Studies.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AN Ammonium nitrate
COVID-19 Coronavirus 2019
IATG International Ammunition Technical Guidelines
IED Improvised explosive device
IMO International Maritime Organization
kt Kiloton
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (of the United States)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On 4 August 2020, one of the biggest non-nuclear The single most important lesson from the Beirut
explosions in history – and the largest single explosion explosion is that the incident could have been prevented,
ever to occur in the Middle East – took place in the and so there is an urgent need for States and relevant
heavily populated city of Beirut, Lebanon. The explosion, private sector and industry actors to take action to
caused by detonation of 2,750 tonnes of high-density prevent similar future accidents. This report identifies a
ammonium nitrate (with an estimated TNT equivalent series of policy-relevant and technical recommendations
explosive effect of between 1.5 and 2 kilotons), had to tackle and further reduce safety risks from explosive
catastrophic consequences for the city of Beirut, its precursors and to strengthen oversight and governance
people and the urban ecosystem. One month after the to prevent accidental and unplanned explosions.
incident, the number of people killed had reached 190,
and over 6,500 were injured. It is estimated that a total Policy recommendations include:
of 200,000 domestic dwellings were affected in Beirut;
40,000 buildings were damaged; and 3,000 housing • Clarify roles and responsibilities and strengthen
structures received serious damage as a result of the national coordination and information exchange
explosion. It is further estimated that 300,000 people among and between national authorities and private
lost their homes, and over 15,000 establishments – sector and industry actors in the management of
approximately 50 per cent of Beirut’s business and explosive precursors.
service sectors – were damaged, the majority in the
• Assess gaps and, where necessary, revise national
wholesale, retail and hospitality sectors.
regulatory frameworks to strengthen oversight
and management of explosive precursors and the
The post-blast consequences and the associated
processes and capacities to enforce them.
socio-economic risks for Lebanon in the future are
considerable – the United Nations and the World Bank • Assess and identify safety and security risks and
estimate that the cost of reconstruction may be in the vulnerabilities in the supply chain of explosive
range of several billion dollars. The explosion occurred precursors and undertake mitigation measures
at a time of severe economic crisis in Lebanon, where throughout the life cycle of explosive precursors.
an estimated 1 million people live below the poverty • Institute regulation and procedures for safe
line. Social tensions and associated risks have grown and secure storage, including safety distances,
in Beirut and other parts of the country following the segregation, and removal or relocation of large
explosion, leading to the resignation of the Lebanese quantities of explosives from populated areas.
Government. Further compounding the recovery efforts
is an observed increase in transmission of coronavirus • Raise awareness among both political leaders and
2019 (COVID-19) following the blast in Beirut, which industry actors downstream in the supply chain on
is straining the country’s already fragile health-care the risks and potential impacts of poorly managed
system. Beyond other immediate risks, such as disruption explosive precursors.
to the supply chain of food, medical and other essential
supplies, the medium-to-long-term effects of the blast
Technical recommendations include:
and the COVID-19-related lockdown are likely to have
a significant impact on the psychological well-being of • For the purposes of storage and transport, high-
people in Beirut. density AN should be considered for reclassification
as a Class 1 explosive with a Hazard Division of 1.1,
The devastation caused by the Beirut explosion has that is, as a material capable of mass explosion.
renewed attention on the need for safe and secure • Review and, where necessary, update existing
through-life management – that is, production, recommendations regarding the safe transport
acquisition, transportation, storage, handling and end of dangerous cargo to reflect the mass explosion
use – of explosive precursors and other dangerous hazard associated with ammonium nitrate.
goods around the world. This incident also serves as an
important reminder of the critical need to ensure that • Ensure that risks are as low as reasonably practicable
large quantities of explosive precursors are not stored (ALARP), and appropriate safety distances are
and left unmanaged in built-up and populated areas, applied to the storage of ammonium nitrate based
where unplanned or accidental explosions can cause on quantity risk assessment.
catastrophic direct and indirect cumulative and long-
term harm to people, their livelihood and the urban
ecosystem.
1 J. Amos and P. Rincon, “Beirut Blast was ‘historically’ Powerful”, BBC News, 5 October 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/sci-
ence-environment-54420033. See also S.E. Rigby et al., “Preliminary Yield Estimation of the 2020 Beirut Explosion Using Video
Footage from Social Media”, Shock Waves, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-020-00970-z.
2 There have been a considerable range of published figures for the estimated TNT equivalence of the size of the explosion,
ranging from 0.4 to 3.4 kt. The estimate in this paper is based on an evaluation of the physical blast effects on the ground, partic-
ularly the level of damage to buildings and breakage of windows at known distances from the seat of the explosion (see Technical
Appendix B). Explosion effects evaluation and explosive quantity estimation is an imprecise science. While the maximum quantity of
AN stored in the Beirut Port warehouse prior to the explosion is known, the level of organic contamination of the material and the
effects that the packaging and the possible presence of other dangerous goods is not known.
3 For further information about the impact of the explosion effects, see section 3 and Technical Appendix B of this report.
THE BEIRUT PORT EXPLOSION 3
2. UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS FROM THE BEIRUT
PORT EXPLOSION
2.1. MATERIALS INVOLVED IN THE When mixed with almost any organic matter,
EXPLOSION hydrocarbons or certain metallic powders, AN becomes
a potential explosive. For this reason, AN has been
2.1.1. Ammonium nitrate misused by terrorists and extremists for many years in
From early in the 20th century, ammonium nitrate (AN) the manufacture of homemade explosives. AN was the
has been an important chemical used in the manufacture principal constituent in most of the large improvised
of explosives and as an agricultural fertilizer. As a explosive devices (IEDs) employed by groups such as
fertilizer, AN has increased agricultural productivity the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), the Fuerzas
and helped meet the growing global demand for food. Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) and the
As a component of explosives, AN has many positive Taliban in Afghanistan.
features. It is generally very stable and quite insensitive
to accidental detonation through impact and friction. AN in its pure form is not classified under the United
However, AN also poses explosive hazard risks and has Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification
a long history of being involved in accidental explosions and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as an explosive, but
(see Table 1). it is classified as a Class 5.1 dangerous good (i.e. an
oxidizing substance).6 In its Revised Recommendations
The chemical formula of AN is NH4NO3. In its pure on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related
form it is a white or colourless crystal. It has a melting Activities in Port Areas, the International Maritime
point of 169°C and starts to chemically decompose at Organization (IMO) recommends that:
this temperature. AN is very hygroscopic (i.e. it readily
absorbs water); for this reason, especially when used Dangerous cargo areas should have separate areas
in explosive formulations, AN prills (i.e. pellets) are with all necessary facilities appropriate to the hazards
treated with a surface coating to reduce water uptake emanating from the cargoes to be kept. Where
and to prevent caking (i.e. the prills adhering together).4 appropriate these facilities should include separate
AN has a high oxygen content and, as a result, fires ventilation, drainage, fire resisting walls, ceilings, etc.7
involving AN cannot be extinguished by smothering.
The fire hazards associated with AN are increased very
significantly when organic matter or hydrocarbons are
present and AN is stored in confined spaces.
UNIDIR 4
2.1.2. Other materials coordination at the national level among relevant
A review of possible materials stored at the site of national stakeholders, including Government and
the Beirut explosion highlights the risks associated non-Governmental private sector and industry
with polypropylene packaging and other incendiary actors responsible for the through-life management
materials. The entire consignment of AN involved in the of explosive materials; and 4) an established and
Beirut Port explosion was packaged in polypropylene well-understood process for risk identification and
textile sacks. Polypropylene is a hydrocarbon polymer mitigation at both strategic and operational levels
consisting of 85.7 per cent carbon and 14.3 per cent of governance, including adequate allocation of
hydrogen, formed by the polymerization of propylene. resources to implement them.
Polypropylene is a very versatile material and its fibres • High quantity of explosive materials stored in a
can be used in a textile form for the packaging of bulk populated area: When explosive blasts take place
materials. in built-up and populated areas, the harm to civilians
and civilian objects rises exponentially due to the
Polypropylene melts at around 163°C and will start to density and inherent vulnerability of the civilian
degrade at approximately 220°C; it will ignite when its population and its dependence on a web of critical
surface temperature reaches approximately 340°C.8 The and interconnected services. Oversight mechanisms
thermal degradation products of polypropylene have and processes should consider preventive
been studied widely.9 When the material is burned in air, measures, including prohibiting storage of a large
a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other volatile quantity of explosive materials in populated areas,
gases is released.10 or relocating the items away from cities and towns.
They should also consider mitigation measures by
It has not been possible to confirm what other materials instituting quantity safety distances11 and putting in
stored in the Beirut Port warehouse contributed to the place physical barriers to minimize blast effects if
initiation of the explosion or exacerbated its impact. explosive materials cannot be relocated or divided
Analysis of video imagery showing later stages of the and segregated into smaller quantities.
fire indicates that other hazardous materials, possibly
fireworks or other pyrotechnics, had become involved in • Considerations on unloading dangerous goods
the fire. There is no evidence to suggest that any military from vessels: If a cargo containing explosive
munitions or other types of manufactured commercial materials is deemed too hazardous to be left on
explosive were involved in the explosion. board the vessel, it should also be regarded as too
hazardous to be unloaded and stored in a general
2.2. KEY RISKS IDENTIFIED FROM THE BEIRUT cargo warehouse in close proximity to civilian
EXPLOSION INCIDENT population and civilian objects. It should only be
unloaded in berths away from populated areas.
This section highlights key explosive hazard risks
identified from the Beirut explosion incident. A 2.2.2. Risks associated with storage and practices
preliminary analysis of the Beirut explosion effects is
presented in Technical Appendix B. • Inappropriate storage building and lack of
protective barriers for dangerous goods:
2.2.1. Oversight of explosive material The AN was stored in a light-skinned general
cargo warehouse. Given its location, build
• Lack of oversight of explosive materials stored standard, environmental protection and security
over an extended period of time: A large quantity arrangements, it was unsuitable for the storage of
of AN was stored with limited oversight over an dangerous goods. Dangerous goods that pose a fire
extended period of six years, contributing to an or explosion risk should be stored only in buildings
increase in the safety risks associated with the with the appropriate level of fire-protection
explosive material. This points to several oversight measures, including screened electrical systems,
considerations: 1) the need for dedicated or fire-detection and -monitoring systems, and fire-
related safety regulations for explosive materials, fighting equipment that is ready for immediate
including their enforcement; 2) a clear designation use. Where bulk AN is stored it is essential that
of lead national authorities responsible for the appropriate infrastructure measures are taken to
oversight and governance of explosive materials; 3)
8 T.J. Shields and J. Zhang, “Fire Hazard with Polypropylene”, in J. Karger-Kocsis (ed.), Polypropylene: An A-Z Reference, 1999,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4421-6_34.
9 V. Purohit and R.A. Orzel, “Polypropylene: A Literature Review of the Thermal Decomposition Products and Toxicity, Journal of
the American College of Toxicology, vol. 7, no. 2, 1988, https://doi.org/10.3109/10915818809014521.
10 P.J. Fardell, J.M. Murrell and J.V. Murrell, “Chemical ‘Fingerprint’ Studies of Fire Atmospheres”, Fire and Materials, vol. 10, 1986,
https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.810100105.
11 One of the most efficient means of protecting the public from the effects of an explosive event is by the use of separation
distances, which ensure that populations are always at a tolerably safe distance from the explosives during storage and handling.
Within the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), tables of net explosive quantity and associated minimum recom-
mended distances, known as Quantity Distance Tables, form the foundation of the safe licensing and storage for sites containing
explosive materials.
12 In explosive engineering terms, the increase in sensitivity of the AN would have resulted in a reduction in the Figure of Insen-
sitiveness (F of I) of the explosive. The likely extent of the reduction cannot be determined precisely but the authors have witnessed,
first-hand, explosive trials involving the evaluation of effects of added water on the sensitivity of AN-based explosive compositions
that demonstrate how the addition of extra water to AN explosive compositions can increase their sensitivity.
13 Hot work refers to any work that requires using open flames, applying heat or friction, or may generate sparks or heat. Hot
work includes welding, flame cutting, soldering, brazing, grinding and the use of other equipment incorporating a flame.
14 International Maritime Organization, Revised Recommendations on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related
activities in Port Areas, MSC.1/Circ.1216, 26 February 2007, paras 7.1.5.2 and 7.1.9.1.
15 WG Sykes et al, “Ammonium Nitrate Explosion Hazards”, Chemical Engineering Progress, vol. 59, no. 1, Jan. 1963.
16 See Pittman, William & Han, Zhe & Harding, Brian & Rosas, Camilo & Jiang, Jiaojun & Pineda, Alba & Mannan, M. Sam. (2014).
Lessons to be learned from an analysis of ammonium nitrate disasters in the last 100 years. Journal of hazardous materials. 280C.
472-477. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.08.037.
17 See Ammonium nitrate explosion hazards, WG Sykes, RJ Johnson & R M Hainer, Chemical Engineering Progress, Vol 59, No 1,
pp 66-71, January 1963.
UNIDIR 6
3. EXPLOSIONS IN URBAN AND BUILT-UP AREAS:
THE REVERBERATING EFFECT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC RISKS
18 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “UNHCR Lebanon at a Glance”, https://www.unhcr.org/lb/at-a-glance.
19 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions”, Situational Report no. 5,
17 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/lebanon_beirut_port_explosion_situation_report5_14_to_17_
aug_2020.pdf; and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions”, Situational
Report no. 6, 21 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Beirut Port_SitRep No.6.pdf.
20 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions”, Situational Report no. 5,
17 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/lebanon_beirut_port_explosion_situation_report5_14_to_17_
aug_2020.pdf; and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “UNDP to Focus on Inclusive Recovery as It Supports Lebanon
Following the Beirut Blast Catastrophe”, 14 August 2020, https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2020/
UNDP_to_focus_on_inclusive_recovery_as_it_supports_Lebanon_following_the_Beirut_blast_catastrophe.html.
21 ACAPS, “Lebanon: Explosion in Beirut”, Short note, 8 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resourc-
es/20200808_acaps_briefing_note_lebanon_beirut_explosion.pdf.
22 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions”, Situational Report no. 5,
17 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/lebanon_beirut_port_explosion_situation_report5_14_to_17_
aug_2020.pdf.
23 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “UNESCO Rallies International Community to
Safeguard Beirut’s Cultural Life and Heritage”, 13 August 2020, https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-rallies-international-communi-
ty-safeguard-beiruts-cultural-life-and-heritage.
24 World Bank, Beirut Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, August 2020, http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/
en/650091598854062180/pdf/Beirut-Rapid-Damage-and-Needs-Assessment.pdf. See also “How Can the UN Help Prevent Another
Beirut Disaster?”, UN News, 20 August 2020, https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1070582.
25 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Flash Appeal: Lebanon”, August 2020, https://www.uno-
cha.org/sites/unocha/files/Lebanon Flash Appeal FINAL 14 Aug 2020.pdf.
26 Ibid.
27 T. Arnold, “Lebanon Follows Venezuela into Hyperinflation Wilderness”, Reuters, 23 July 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/
us-emerging-inflation-graphic/lebanon-follows-venezuela-into-hyperinflation-wilderness-idUSKCN24O20J.
28 C. Cornish, “Lebanon’s Crisis: ‘People Are Going to Suffer, People Are Hungry’”, Financial Times, 10 August 2020, https://www.
ft.com/content/83065c49-1cf0-4ce5-98cf-ca20df037e24.
29 Human Rights Watch, “Lebanon: Lethal Force Used Against Protesters”, 26 August 2020, https://www.hrw.org/
news/2020/08/26/lebanon-lethal-force-used-against-protesters.
30 “UN and Partners Launch $565 Million Appeal for Lebanon”, UN News, 14 August 2020, https://news.un.org/en/sto-
ry/2020/08/1070242.
31 “Beirut Explosion: Lebanon’s Government Resigns as Public Anger Mounts”, BBC News, 10 August 2020, https://www.bbc.com/
news/world-middle-east-53722909.
UNIDIR 8
4. POLICY AND GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS
The devastation caused by the Beirut explosion on scale of private sector actors involved in the supply chain
4 August has renewed attention on the need for of explosive precursors – ranging from manufacturers,
responsible safe and secure through-life management via distributors and retailers to end users – there is a
– that is, the production, acquisition, transportation, need to establish clear roles and responsibilities among
storage, handling and end use – of dangerous these actors, as well as to effectively coordinate with
goods around the world. This incident also serves relevant national authorities to prevent accidents and
as an important reminder of the critical need for risk unplanned explosions.
management processes to ensure that large quantities of
explosive precursors are not stored and left unmanaged 4.2. REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
in built-up and populated areas, where unplanned or
accidental explosions can cause catastrophic direct, Regulatory frameworks are essential to ensure proper
indirect cumulative and long-term harm to people, their governance and accountability over the safe and secure
livelihood and the urban ecosystem. Recovery from this management of explosive precursors. At the inter-
blast will be a challenging journey for Lebanon. But it national level, there are various agreed rules, regulations
also serves as a cautionary tale and a wake-up call for and guidelines concerning the transportation and
all States and relevant private sector and industry actors handling of dangerous goods, including but not limited
to strengthen preventative and preparedness measures to the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
to address explosive hazard risks. Dangerous Goods Regulations,33 the IMO Dangerous
Goods Code,34 the International Labour Organization
Prevention must be the most important lesson to be (ILO) Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Ports,35
learned from this incident. There is a pressing need to and the model regulations pertaining to United Nations
learn from this accident and to prevent similar future Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous
accidents. This section offers five elements that States as Goods.36 However, the domestication and application of
well as industry and private sector actors can undertake these regulations and guidelines at the national level
to strengthen preventative efforts. vary considerably.
4.1. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Furthermore, there are notable differences in the
maturity of national regulations around the world.
Despite improvements in coordination and cooperation In some cases, regulations exist on paper yet are
among and between the national authorities and obsolete in practice; in other cases, regulations may
industry actors that govern and manage explosive not exist at all. These gaps substantially increase the
precursors, there at times remains a lack of clarity risk of accidental explosions. A review of good practices
on the appropriate roles and responsibilities in the reveals the need for a comprehensive approach to
through-life management of such explosive materials. strengthen regulatory frameworks at the national level.
Responsibilities of designated national authorities This may include activities that complement law-based
vary (e.g. authorization, oversight and safeguards, regulation, such as codes of conducts, codes of ethics
enforcement, etc.), which will require effective signed with customers, and effective risk-assessment
coordination at the domestic level among various procedures and practices, which may also be developed
national actors, ranging from policy makers, via by, or in cooperation with, relevant private sector and
licensing personnel and customs and port officials to industry actors.
law enforcement.32 Such coordination structures may
not exist in some countries, but they are essential to Ammonium nitrate (AN) is widely used in the
ensure effective governance over explosive materials. manufacture of commercial explosives. Its application
in military munitions is generally restricted to enhanced
At the operational level, such explosive precursors may blast compositions, such as amatols, used in aircraft
be managed by private sector and industry actors at bombs and some maritime munition warheads. For
various points in the supply chain. Given the variety and military munitions, the International Ammunition
32 For example, a review of the Beirut blast incident reveals initial oversight and inquiry by relevant Lebanese authorities in
2013–2014 on the status of the vessel and its cargo containing AN, but subsequent actions to ensure safe and secure storage of the
AN leading up to the incident remain unclear.
33 International Air Transport Association (IATA), “Dangerous Goods”, https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dgr/.
34 International Maritime Organization (IMO), “The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code”, http://www.imo.org/
en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes/DangerousGoods/Pages/default.aspx.
35 International Labour Organization (ILO), Safety and Health in Ports, 12 March 2018, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/pub-
lic/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/normativeinstrument/wcms_546257.pdf.
36 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous
Goods: Model Regulations, 21st revised edition, 2019, https://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/unrec/rev21/21files_e.html.
37 UN SaferGuard, “UN Explosive Hazard Classification System and Codes”, International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG)
01.50, 2nd edition, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, 1 February 2015, https://www.un.org/disarmament/un-safer-
guard/guide-lines/.
38 See International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) 02.10, “Introduction to Risk Management and Principles”, IATG 02.20,
“Quantity and Separation Distances”, IATG 02.30, “Licensing of Explosive Facilities”, and IATG 02.40, “Safeguarding of Explosive Facil-
ities”, in UN SaferGuard, “Risk Management”, IATG 02, 2nd edition, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, 1 February 2015,
https://www.un.org/disarmament/un-saferguard/guide-lines/.
UNIDIR 10
Awareness-raising may be particularly important and
relevant for two particular sets of actors. First, targeted
sensitization for political leaders and policy makers is
essential in order for them to fully understand and accept
or reduce the risks associated with a potential explosive
blast incident and to appreciate the accountability that
comes with the oversight responsibilities placed on
them. Second, downstream industry actors, such as
wholesalers, formulators and retailers, may not always
be aware of the explosive risks associated with explosive
precursor chemicals. Sensitization at these lower levels
of the supply chain is often lacking but is a pressing
need.
Given its track record and proven capability to mass To maintain public safety, the United Nations SaferGuard
detonate, it is incongruous that ammonium nitrate Programme Quantity-Distance Map tool suggests the
(AN) is classified solely under the Globally Harmonized following minimum safe distances to ensure public
System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals as safety:
a Class 5.1 oxidizing substance, rather than a Class 1
explosive. • 1,865 metres to a public traffic route (green circle):
The term “public traffic route” refers to a road used
Recommendation 1: For the purposes of storage and for general public traffic; a railway outside the
transport, high-density AN should be considered for explosives area that is used for public passenger
reclassification as a Class 1 explosive with a Hazard traffic; a waterway used by passenger vessels, such
Division of 1.1, that is, as a material capable of mass as a river with tidal water or a canal.
explosion. • 2,797 metres to an inhabited building (yellow
circle): The term “inhabited building” refers to a
building or structure occupied in whole or in part
5.2. TRANSPORT OF CARGO AND HANDLING OF by people (usually civilian). The term is synonymous
AMMONIUM NITRATE IN PORTS with occupied building.
The IMO’s Revised Recommendations on the Safe • 5,594 metres to a vulnerable building (purple
Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related Activities circle): The term “vulnerable building” refers to an
in Port Areas provide relevant and useful guidelines exposed site deemed to be vulnerable by nature
for port and national regulatory authorities on the safe of its construction or function and therefore sited
transport and handling of all types of dangerous goods at greater than the above distance for inhabited
in ports.39 There are, however, gaps and if AN is not buildings. Examples are multi-storey buildings with
reclassified as a Class 1 explosive, there is the potential lots of exposed glass facing the potential explosion
for another accidental explosion similar to that which site, hospitals, places with high concentrations
occurred at the Port of Beirut. of people such as schools and churches, and
warehouse-type structures that use curtain-wall
Recommendation 2: The provisions defined in construction techniques.
the IMO’s Revised Recommendations on the Safe
Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related Activities
in Port Areas should be regarded as the minimum It should be noted that, even beyond these distances,
acceptable standards for the safe operation of ports injuries may still occur because of the effects of breaking
handling dangerous cargoes. Specific guidelines glass.
should be developed to assist national authorities
develop regulations and procedures to reduce the Recommendation 3: National regulatory authorities
risks associated with the handling of AN to as low as should consider the mass explosion hazard associated
reasonably practicable (ALARP). with AN and ensure that appropriate safety distances
are applied based on a quantitative risks assessment.
39 International Maritime Organization, Revised Recommendations on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related
activities in Port Areas, MSC.1/Circ.1216, 26 February 2007.
40 UN SaferGuard, “IATG Implementation Support Toolkit”, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, https://www.un.org/
disarmament/un-saferguard/toolkit/.
UNIDIR 12
FIGURE 1: Beirut Port explosives Quantity-Distance Map for 2,000 tonne explosive content
Note: The term “quantity distance” refers to the minimum permissible separation distance required between a potential explosion
site (i.e. a site holding explosives) and an exposed site (i.e. a site which could be damaged by an explosion).
EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES
41 Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Characterisation of Explosive Weapons: Explosion Weapon
Effects, February 2017, http://characterisationexplosiveweapons.org/studies/final-report/.
42 There is an inverse cube relationship between the magnitude of blast and standoff distance. Thus, if the distance from a specif-
ic point explosion is doubled (increased by a factor of the 2), then the blast at this point is reduced by a factor of 8 (23).
43 Imperial College London, Centre for Blast Injury Studies, http://www.imperial.ac.uk/blast-injury.
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the magnitude of the pressure and the duration that In the case of exceptionally large explosions, as was the
the pressure acts on the building element. case in Beirut, the initial blast wave impact during the
positive phase duration of the explosion can shatter
Blast loading is an abnormal event and stresses
glazing and project shards and fragments inwards
structures in abnormal ways unless they have been
at high velocity. The longer negative phase duration
designed to resist the effects of a blast. Buildings
creates a suction effect, which draws these fragments
are generally designed to resist downward loads
out of buildings; in confined urban areas, these can
(principally structural mass and gravity) and lateral
shower unprotected pedestrians in the street. Modern
loads (such as wind and precipitation), which are minor
high-rise buildings, with curtain wall construction and
in comparison to most blast loads. In earthquake-prone
extensive glazing, are particularly vulnerable in this
regions, buildings are also designed to withstand forces
respect.
created by ground movements. Most structures are not
designed to withstand large, above-ground shock waves
GROUND SHOCK AND CRATERING
of the magnitude associated with large explosions.
Very lightweight buildings and buildings built with
Ground shock results from energy imparted to the
unreinforced masonry, such as brick or concrete blocks,
ground by an explosion. Some of the energy is
tend to respond very poorly to explosions, while
transmitted through the air in the form of an air blast.
concrete and steel-framed buildings tend to respond
This induces a ground shock when the air blast shock
the best.
wave compresses the ground surface and sends a stress
pulse into the underlying media. Some of the energy
In framed buildings, the material that fills in the space
is transmitted through the ground as direct induced
between the columns and beams (i.e. the windows
ground shock and results from the explosive energy
and infill walls) are the least resistant to blast forces
being transmitted directly through the ground.44 This
and can create secondary fragmentation hazards (see
below). In situations where a building does not collapse latter effect also results in the production of a crater.
from an explosion, most injuries are as a result of
fragmentation. One of the most hazardous infill wall Ground shock may have a significant effect on the
materials is unreinforced masonry. Unreinforced glazing integrity of underground utilities and can also severely
is particularly vulnerable to a blast at relatively low damage structural foundations. This coupled with the
peak overpressures, and it thus represents a significant above-surface effects of air blast may cause catastrophic
structural collapse or render buildings beyond repair.
hazard over large areas. Buildings of curtain walled
The Beirut Port explosion was detected by several
construction with extensive glazing components, such
seismic monitoring organizations and was reported by
as is often found on modern high-rise buildings, are
the United States Geological Survey as the equivalent of
also particularly vulnerable to damage by blast.
a magnitude 3.3 earthquake.45
THERMAL EFFECTS
FRAGMENTATION
Thermal effects depend on the size and type of explosive
Primary fragmentation
involved in the explosion. Typically, the thermal effects
For an explosion involving military munitions, the
are most significant close to the seat of the explosion,
principal source of primary fragments is the casing
and at such ranges the principal hazards to humans are
of the munition. In an explosion contained within a
blast and fragmentation. However, the thermal effects
structure, the main source of primary fragmentation is
can cause burning of exposed skin and can ignite
the framework of the building. It is generally accepted
nearby flammable materials. The Beirut Port explosion
that projected debris with a terminal kinetic energy
started a few fires, which took several hours to bring
exceeding 80 joules is potentially lethal.
under control.
Secondary fragmentation
The secondary fragmentation generated by an explosion
is largely dependent on the surroundings in which the
explosion takes place. Secondary fragmentation can
also result from crater debris ejected from the seat of
the explosion, debris from structures close to the seat
of the explosion, or from building debris and glazing hit
by the blast wave at relatively large distances from the
explosion.
44 R.J. Odello and P. Price, Ground Shock Effects from Accidental Explosions, Picatinny Arsenal, November 1976, https://apps.dtic.
mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a033208.pdf.
45 United States Geological Survey, “M 3.3 Explosion - 1 km ENE of Beirut, Lebanon”, 4 August 2020, https://earthquake.usgs.gov/
earthquakes/eventpage/us6000b9bx/dyfi/intensity?source=us&code=us6000b9bx.
The Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) project of the United States National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), in collaboration with the Earth Observatory of Singapore, used satellite data to map the extent
of likely damage following the explosion in Beirut. In the image shown in Figure 3, dark red pixels represent the areas
with the most severe damage, areas in orange are moderately damaged and areas in yellow have sustained less damage.
Each coloured pixel represents an area of 30 metres.
Unsurprisingly, the areas of Beirut subject to the greatest damage are those closest to the seat of the explosion. Buildings
in Mar Mikhael, Marf’aa, Majidiyeh, Remeil and Gamayzeh sustained very significant structural damage and many may
be beyond economic repair.
Note: The map contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data processed by the European Space Agency and analysed by
ARIA team scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the Earth
Observatory of Singapore. More information on ARIA can be found at https://aria.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Figure 4 shows an aerial view of the Silo Quay prior to the explosion, with the location of Warehouse 12 (the seat of the
explosion) marked.
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Figure 5 shows an aerial view of the damage to the Port of Beirut, with the seat of explosion located to the right of the
prominent grain silos at Silo Quay. The near-field effects of the blast wave have largely destroyed the frangible, light-
framed buildings that make up the majority of the port warehouses. It is apparent that the barricade effect of the massive
concrete grain silo offered a measure of protection to the structures behind it and may have dissipated or reflected some
of the blast wave upwards and outwards.
Figure 6 shows an aerial view of the seat of the explosion at Silo Quay. The explosion destroyed Warehouse 12 and
created an elliptical-shaped crater, approximately 140 m long with a width of 75 m and a reported maximum depth of
43 m. When evaluating the size of the crater, the fact that the quay was built on an area of reclaimed land should be
considered.
46 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Lebanon: Beirut Port Explosions”, Situational Report no. 5,
17 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/lebanon_beirut_port_explosion_situation_report5_14_to_17_
aug_2020.pdf.
47 E. Francis, “’The Final Blow’ – Beirut Blast Batters Struggling Hospitals”, Reuters, 12 August 2020, https://www.reuters.com/arti-
cle/us-lebanon-security-blast-hospitals-idUSKCN2581UG.
48 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “UNDP to Focus on Inclusive Recovery as It Supports Lebanon Following the
Beirut Blast Catastrophe”, 14 August 2020, https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2020/UNDP_to_fo-
cus_on_inclusive_recovery_as_it_supports_Lebanon_following_the_Beirut_blast_catastrophe.html.
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Analysis of blast damage to buildings
Figure 7 shows the level of blast damage sustained by the light-framed buildings in the Port of Beirut to the south of
Silo Quay. In the distance, the effects of the blast wave on the high-rise structures of central Beirut can be seen clearly.
All buildings within 600–800 m have been destroyed by the blast and the remnants will require demolition. The high-rise
structures visible at a distance of 1,000–2,000 m have been extensively damaged and most will require extensive repairs
before they are habitable.
FIGURE 7: Blast damage from Port of Beirut towards Beirut city centre
Figure 8 shows the type of damage, typically out to a radius of 2,000 m around the seat of the explosion, that has
occurred to many buildings in the centre of Beirut. Masonry has coped very poorly with the side-on impulse exerted by
the blast wave and many structures, particularly older buildings made of brick, have collapsed into the streets.
1.5 kt 2 kt 2.5 kt
Glass damage
Minimum distance to no breaka 2,976 m 3,275 m 3,528 m
Injuries
Fatal 264 m 290 m 313 m
Lung damage 418 m 460 m 496 m
Hearing damage 1,076 m 1,185 m 1,276 m
Inhabited buildings damage
Buildings demolished by blast 434 m 478 m 515 m
Buildings requiring demolition 641 m 705 m 760 m
Buildings requiring extensive repairs 1,098 m 1,209 m 1,302 m
Uninhabitable but requiring quick repairs 3,205 m 3,527 m 3,800 m
Minor damage but habitable 6,410 m 7,055 m 7,600 m
a
Based on a 0.55 x 0.55 m window consisting of 4-millimetre annealed plate glass.
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