Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃), an ingredient of making chemical agricultural pesticides, is stored in a port of Busan. It is a safe substance, but when it is heated, it could explode. The problem is not only because it is dangerous, but also, it is stored in a huge amount. About 2000 tons of Ammonium Nitrate, which could make a huge disaster, is stored in a port of Busan.

▲ About 2000 tons of Ammonium Nitrate is stored in Busan port.(BusanIlbo)

▲ In Beirut, there was a explosion at Beirut port by Ammonium Nitrate.(Newstopia)

Similarly, four days ago, in Lebanon, there was a huge man-made disaster, Ammonium Nitrate, which was stored in a port of Beirut, exploded. About 2750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate exploded. The reason for the explosion has not yet found. The natural explosion by heating has the highest possible, but according to Michel Naim Aoun, the president of Lebanon, he would not exclude other factors such as rocket and bomb.

About 154 people were killed and over 5000 people were injured. Among the explosion in Lebanon the injured, about 120 people were critical, so the number of casualties would probably increase. About 0.3 million of people have lost their homes and buildings in kilometre-radius, and about 3 to 5 billion dollars of damage have been generated.

▲ MOF in Busan said that they executed special management about Ammonium Nitrate in Busan port.(BuKyungIlbo)

With this, an administrator of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Busan said that after the disaster in Lebanon, they have executed special management in the port of Busan, and there is not any possibility of an explosion as the Ammonium Nitrate is safely stored. Having the possibility of a disaster, however, the citizens in Busan still feared. A citizen said that a similar amount of substance is stored in a port of Busan. If it explodes, a lot of people will be injured and killed, and lots of monetary damage will be generated. So, they should prove the safety of the way they store the substance publicly.

August 16th, 2020

By 배두진