In 1947, a French ship caught fire after anchoring in a Texas port, and the ship was carrying 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate, the same factor that caused the massive explosion at Beirut port.

A cigarette, was enough to let the fire on the French ship and caused the sparking of an explosion, and the fire reached the ammonium nitrate stores on board. Until the smoke started to rise and the flames rose over the place.

 Flames spread wildly to ammonium nitrate stores, and the cargo exploded. Other cargo ships carrying oil tanks and residential areas were also destroyed, causing displacement, wounding, and the death of thousands.

The Texas accident is the largest non-nuclear disaster the world witnessed at the time, and it caused the displacement of more than two thousand people. It killed 581 people and wounded 5 thousand.

 The American authorities estimated the losses resulting from the fire at about 100 million dollars, while the losses of burning oil were estimated at about 500 million dollars, in addition to destroying several factories, hundreds of houses, and thousands of damaged cars.

While the losses resulting from the explosion that occurred in the port of Beirut are estimated at 15 billion dollars.

Two explosions, one in Beirut and the other in Texas, but the scenes are the same. People fled in everywhere, hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people, complete devastating places

And ammonium nitrate remains, the factor that caused two catastrophes were separated by more than 7 decades.