#BeirutBlast as we understand the sequence: in 2013 a Moldovan flagged vessel, Rhosus put into Beirut after suffering technical problems. It was en route Mozambique with a cargo of ammonium nitrate - unclear whether it was made for explosive or fertilizer use, it can be both 1/
Not long after Rhosus arrived in Beirut it was impounded, & its Cyprus-based Russian owners gave up on the vessel and its cargo. Given the danger of leaving this potential bomb in place, the Lebanese unloaded and impounded the cargo 2/ fleetmon.com/maritime-news/…
Lebanese customs tried to shift the 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate, to the army or an explosives company for disposal. Today copies of letters sent between 2014 & 2017 alerting people to the dangers of leaving such a volatile cargo in place emerged 3/ aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/o…
As years passed the chemical began to decompose and the dangers increased. Despite this, the customs and government more widely failed to deal with the danger, a 2016 customs memo warning "serious danger of keeping these goods in the hangar in unsuitable climatic conditions" 4/
The scene was set for Tuesday's disaster. Experts believe it highly plausible that a quayside container of fireworks took fire. The initial fire produced multiple bangs + white smoke. The chemical detonation, signature red smoke ENDS
