Beirut Explosion

Beirut Explosion

• Recently, a massive explosion took place in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, which left more than a hundred people dead and more than 4,000 injured, according to the reports until now.
• There were two explosions in the central port area of Beirut which occurred barely within minutes of each other within nearby buildings.
• The blast affected residents living as far as 10 kilometers away from the site and was felt upto 250 Km.
• The blast created seismic waves equivalent to a magnitude 3.3 earthquake.
• The blasts were likely triggered by over 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been confiscated and stored by authorities near the port for over six years.
• A two-week state emergency has been imposed in Beirut following the blast.

Economic Impact

• Lebanon is an import-dependent country. The badly damaged port facility is Lebanon’s largest maritime gateway and it will make essential items expensive and threaten food security in the country.
• Lebanon has already been struggling with a huge economic meltdown, with the rapid devaluation of the local currency and a volatile exchange rate on the black market fueling inflation, shuttering businesses, unemployment, and poverty.
• It had also defaulted on a Eurobond repayment in March 2020.
• It is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $10 billion loan program.
• The blast will pose an additional financial burden of rebuilding the city.

Political Impact

• Lebanon faced nationwide protests against corruption, economic mismanagement, and sectarian politics in October 2019, which forced the resignation of then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
• This blast along with the growing economic crisis can again cause social unrest.

Health Impact

• The country’s health system is already burdened with the patients of the Covid-19 pandemic and the victims of the blast will add to this.

International Response

• Lebanon has been offered help by various countries like the USA, Germany, France, Iran, the EU, Turkey, etc.
• Along with giving aid, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron has decided to visit Lebanon.
• This move is seen as a message of fraternity and solidarity from France.
• Earlier, France’s top diplomat had scolded Lebanon’s political elite for being too “passive” in the face of an economic crisis and the pandemic.
• Lebanon has also been offered humanitarian aid by its neighbor Israel, whom it has bitter relations with.
• Israel sees Hezbollah, the militant group of Lebanon as a threat to its northern borders.’
• Hezbollah is one of the Middle East's most powerful and successful guerrilla organizations. It is the strongest member of Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition bloc who pitted against the pro-Western government led by Saad Hariri.

Ammonium Nitrate

• Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3) is a nitrogen-rich white, crystalline chemical which is soluble in water.
• Uses:
• It is a common chemical ingredient of agricultural fertilizers.
• It is used as an ingredient for the production of anesthetic gases and cold packs.
• It is also the main ingredient in the manufacture of commercial explosives used in mining and construction.

As Explosive:

• It is the main component of the explosive composition known as ANFO- ammonium nitrate fuel oil.
• Pure ammonium nitrate is not an explosive on its own. For Ammonium nitrate to be explosive a primary explosive or detonator like RDX or TNT is required.
• Many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used by terrorists around the world have ANFO as the main explosive.
• Stored ammonium nitrate is a fire hazard and can explode in two ways.
• It may come in contact with some explosive mixture.
• Due to the oxidation process at large scale, heat may be generated starting a fire and then an explosion. This seems to be the primary likely cause of the incident at Beirut port.

Explosions in Past:

• In the majority of terror attacks in India, including those in Pulwama, Varanasi, Malegaon, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, ammonium nitrate has been used along with initiator explosives like RDX.
• There have been accidental explosions of ammonium nitrate causing large numbers of fatalities. Eg. China in 2015 and in Texas in 1947.

Regulations:

• Global: It is classified as an oxidizing content (Grade 5.1) under the United Nations classification of dangerous goods.
• The United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods categorizes the types of dangerous goods, under nine classes like Explosive Materials, Inflammable liquids, Easily oxidizing contents, etc.
• India: In India, the manufacture, conversion, bagging, import, export, transport, possession for sale, or use of ammonium nitrate is covered under The Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.
• The Explosives Act, 1884, define ammonium nitrate as the “compound with formula NH4NO3 including any mixture or compound having more than 45% ammonium nitrate by weight including emulsions, suspensions, melts or gels but excluding emulsion or slurry explosives and non-explosive emulsion matrix and fertilizers from which the ammonium nitrate cannot be separated”.
• Storage of ammonium nitrate in large quantities in populated areas is illegal in India.
• For the manufacture of ammonium nitrate, an Industrial license is required under the Industrial Development and Regulation Act, 1951.
• A license under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 is also required for any activity related to ammonium nitrate.

Way Forward

• This tragedy piles yet another layer of hardship on a country already reeling from its worst financial crisis in decades along with exasperating political turbulence and struggling to contain a burgeoning coronavirus outbreak.
• Lebanon cannot do without containing politically extremist groups functioning in the country and maintaining healthy relationships with the international community.
• It is time that international solidarity comes into action and extends a helping hand towards the country.