Explosion begins on a French freighter
On April 16, 1947, at 9:12 AM, the French freighter Grandcamp, docked at Texas City in the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston, exploded. The ship carried about 2,300 short tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used as fertilizer, which was stored in its holds. The explosion became the most deadly industrial accident in U.S. history.Cause of the fire remains unclear
The explosion occurred about 70 minutes after smoke was first seen in the cargo area. Dockworkers handling the ammonium nitrate, labeled as "fertilizer grade," were unaware of its dangers. The Grandcamp’s captain had banned the use of water, instead using steam to protect the cargo, believing water would damage it. However, ammonium nitrate can act as an oxidizer, fueling its own combustion.Explosion devastates the area
The blast destroyed the dock area, a neighboring chemical plant, grain warehouses, and many oil and chemical tanks. The shock wave was felt as far as Port Arthur, damaging or destroying at least 1,000 homes and buildings. Windows were shattered 64 kilometers away, and two small planes flying at 460 meters altitude were brought down. A 4.5-meter wave followed the explosion.Second explosion the next day
The High Flyer, a ship moored about 250 meters away, also carried ammonium nitrate and sulfur. The first explosion ignited it, and after burning for 16 hours, it exploded the next day. This secondary explosion added to the devastation of the area.Casualties and losses remain uncertain
The exact number of deaths is unknown, with estimates ranging from 400 to 600 fatalities and up to 4,000 injured. The Handbook of Texas notes that the exact number of victims may never be known. Nearly one-third of the victims were never identified. Material damage was estimated at around 67 million dollars at the time.Complex causes and responsibilities
Placing blame solely on the Grandcamp’s captain is an oversimplification. The disaster resulted from a chain of factors: the ammonium nitrate was not properly labeled as hazardous, the smoking ban was not strictly enforced, and firefighters were unaware of the order to avoid using water. The confined space of the ship’s hold likely contributed to the explosion, as 500 tons of nitrate burned without exploding elsewhere on the dock.
