Obscure disasters (formerly "Ever hear of Texas City Disaster...?)

[youtalkfunny]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster

"The Texas City Disaster of April 16, 1947, started with the mid-morning fire and detonation of approximately 17,000,000 pounds (8,500 tons) of ammonium nitrate on board the French-registered vessel SS Grandcamp in the port at Texas City, Texas, killing 581 people."

The view from Galveston, ten miles away:





Found this page while randomly clicking links on Wiki. It's a mind-blowing read about the worst industrial accident in US History. It makes the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire look like a company picnic.

(At least there was a made-for-tv movie about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire when I was a kid, so I heard of that one.)