A
Gas explosion is the result of a
gas leakIn common usage, a gas leak refers to a leak of natural gas, from a pipe or other containment, into a living area or any other area where the gas should not be...
in the presence of an
ignitionCombustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames, appearance of light flickering.Direct combustion by atmospheric oxygen is a reaction...
source. The principal explosive gases are
natural gasNatural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
,
methaneMethane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas. Methane's bond angles are 109.5 degrees. Burning methane in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water. The relative abundance of methane and its clean...
,
propanePropane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing...
and
butaneButane, also called n-butane, is the unbranched alkane with four carbon atoms, CH
3CH
2CH
2CH
3...
, because they are widely used for heating purposes. However, many other gases like
hydrogenHydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas with the molecular formula H
2...
, are combustible and have caused explosions in the past. Industrial gas explosions can be prevented with the use of
intrinsic safetyIntrinsic safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres. The concept was developed for safe operation of process control instrumentation in hazardous areas, particularly North Sea gas platforms...
barriers to prevent ignition.
- The New London School explosion
The New London School explosion occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gas leak caused an explosion, destroying the New London School of the city of New London, Texas. The disaster killed in excess of 295 students and teachers, making it the worst catastrophe to take place in a U.S...
occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gasNatural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
leak caused an explosion, destroying the New London School of the city of New London, TexasNew London is a city in Rusk County, Texas, United States. The population was 987 at the 2000 census.On March 18, 1937, the New London School explosion killed in excess of three hundred people...
.
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A
Gas explosion is the result of a
gas leakIn common usage, a gas leak refers to a leak of natural gas, from a pipe or other containment, into a living area or any other area where the gas should not be...
in the presence of an
ignitionCombustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames, appearance of light flickering.Direct combustion by atmospheric oxygen is a reaction...
source. The principal explosive gases are
natural gasNatural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
,
methaneMethane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas. Methane's bond angles are 109.5 degrees. Burning methane in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water. The relative abundance of methane and its clean...
,
propanePropane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing...
and
butaneButane, also called n-butane, is the unbranched alkane with four carbon atoms, CH
3CH
2CH
2CH
3...
, because they are widely used for heating purposes. However, many other gases like
hydrogenHydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas with the molecular formula H
2...
, are combustible and have caused explosions in the past. Industrial gas explosions can be prevented with the use of
intrinsic safetyIntrinsic safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres. The concept was developed for safe operation of process control instrumentation in hazardous areas, particularly North Sea gas platforms...
barriers to prevent ignition.
Notable gas explosions
- The New London School explosion
The New London School explosion occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gas leak caused an explosion, destroying the New London School of the city of New London, Texas. The disaster killed in excess of 295 students and teachers, making it the worst catastrophe to take place in a U.S...
occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gasNatural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
leak caused an explosion, destroying the New London School of the city of New London, TexasNew London is a city in Rusk County, Texas, United States. The population was 987 at the 2000 census.On March 18, 1937, the New London School explosion killed in excess of three hundred people...
. The disaster killed three hundred students and teachers.
- The Cleveland East Ohio Gas Explosion
Cleveland East Ohio Gas Explosion occurred on the afternoon of Friday, October 20, 1944. The resulting gas leak, explosion and fires killed 130 people and destroyed a one square mile area on Cleveland, Ohio's east side.-The disaster:At 2:30 p.m...
occurred on the afternoon of Friday, October 20, 1944. The resulting gas leak, explosion and fires killed 130 people and destroyed a one square mile area on Cleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border...
’s east side.
- The Richmond, Indiana explosion
The Richmond, Indiana explosion was a double explosion which occurred at 1:47 PM EST on Saturday, April 6, 1968 in downtown Richmond, Indiana. The explosions killed 41 people and injured more than 150...
, on Saturday, April 6, 1968. Two explosions occur in mid-afternoon, in the middle of downtown Richmond, IndianaRichmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport in Boston Township which is separated from the rest of the city...
. The first is caused by a natural gas leak, and the second, by gunpowder and ammunition inside a sporting goods store. 41 people are killed and more than 150 injured. Four square blocks of downtown Richmond, Indiana are heavily damaged by the explosion or subsequent fire.
- Ronan Point
Ronan Point was a 23-storey tower block in Newham, East London, which suffered a partial collapse when a gas explosion demolished a load bearing wall, causing the collapse of one entire corner of the building...
was a 23-storey councilThe council house is a form of public or social housing, primarily referred to in the United Kingdom. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well built homes on secure tenancies at below market rents to primarily working class people. Council house development...
tower blockA Tower block, Apartment tower, or Apartment block, Block of flats, is a multi-unit high-rise Apartment building. In some areas they may be referred to as "MDU" standing for "Multi Dwelling Unit". Apartment blocks have technical and economic advantages in areas with high population density...
in NewhamThe London Borough of Newham is a London borough in East London, within Greater London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames...
, East London. On 16 May 1968 a gas explosion caused the collapse of a whole corner of the building. Four people were killed in the collapse, with one dying later of injuries.
- 23 May 1984 Abbeystead
Abbeystead is a small, picturesque village located in West Bowland, in Lancashire, England.-History:Little is known of the history of Abbeystead before the Norman Conquest, except that it was occupied from at least the middle of the prehistoric period....
natural gas explosion resulting in 16 deaths and 22 injured from MethaneMethane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas. Methane's bond angles are 109.5 degrees. Burning methane in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water. The relative abundance of methane and its clean...
entering waterwork pipes.
- 24 March 1986 Loscoe
Loscoe is a small village near Heanor in Derbyshire, England.The research for Highfield House dates back to 1650 or possibly as early as 1630...
gas explosion - no fatalities but extensive property destruction, this caused the UK Government to legislate on landfillA landfill, also known as a dump , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
sites and building practices with regard to landfill gas migrationLandfill gas will migrate from a site via diffusion and pressure differences in the soil...
.
- In July 1988, 167 people died when Occidental Petroleum
Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America. The company nickname “Oxy” began in 1964 in reference to Occidental’s NYSE stock ticker. Headquartered in Los...
's AlphaPiper Alpha was a North Sea oil production platform operated by Occidental Petroleum Ltd. The platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas production. An explosion and resulting fire destroyed it on July 6, 1988, killing 167 men, with only 59...
offshore production platform, on the Piper field in the North SeaThe North Sea is a marginal, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf. The Dover Strait and the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north connect it to the Atlantic Ocean. It is more than long and wide, with an area of around...
, exploded after a gas leak.
- The 1992 explosion in Guadalajara
The 1992 explosion in Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, took place on April 22, 1992 in the downtown district of Analco. Numerous gasoline explosions in the sewer system over four hours destroyed 8 kilometers of streets. Gante Street was the most damaged. Officially, 206 people were...
, MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's second largest city, took place on April 22, 1992 in the downtown district of Analco. Numerous gasolineGasoline or petrol is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture, primarily used as fuel in internal combustion engines...
explosions in the sewerA sanitary sewer is a type of underground carriage system, , for transporting sewage from houses or industry to treatment or disposal...
system over four hours destroyed kilometers of streets. Officially, 206 people were killed, nearly 500 injured and 15,000 were left homeless.
- The Humberto Vidal Explosion
The Humberto Vidal Explosion was a gas explosion that occurred on November 21, 1996 at the Humberto Vidal shoe store located in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. The explosion killed 33 and wounded more than 80 others when the building collapsed...
(sometimes also referred to as the Río Piedras Explosion) was a gasThis page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter. For the uses of gases, and other meanings, see Gas .A gas is one of four states of matter. Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid...
explosion that occurred on November 21, 1996 on the Humberto Vidal shoe store located in Río PiedrasRío Piedras is a former municipality now part of the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of "Ciudad Universitaria"...
, Puerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The explosion killed 33 and wounded 69 others when the building collapsed. It is considered one of the deadliest disasters to have occurred on the island.
- On December 11, 1998, there was a gas explosion
The 1998 St. Cloud explosion was a gas explosion that occurred in St. Cloud, Minnesota on December 11, 1998. A work crew installing a utility pole support anchor punctured an underground natural gas pipeline which resulted in the explosion...
in St. Cloud, MinnesotaSt. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 59,107 at the 2000 census, while 2007 census estimates show it growing to 66,948, making it the third largest city in the state outside the Twin Cities...
, which killed four people.
- On January 17, 2001, natural gas
Natural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
stored underground in Hutchinson, KansasHutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. Hutchinson's nickname is The Salt City but is referred to locally as Hutch. The population was 40,787 at the 2000 census...
leaked into empty brineBrine is water saturated or nearly saturated with a salt .It is used to preserve vegetables, fish, and meat, in a process known as brining . Brine is also commonly used to age Halloumi and Feta cheeses.Brine is a common fluid used in large refrigeration installations for the transport of heat from...
caverns. Two explosions resulted from the leak. One destroyed two businesses and damaged 26 others. Another destroyed a trailer parkA trailer park is a neighborhood consisting of an area of land where travel trailers rest. The term may also be used to refer to mobile home parks or manufactured home communities....
killing two people. SinkholeA sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the surface topography caused by the removal of soil or bedrock, often both, by water...
s and gas leaks formed all around the city and the gas had to be slowly burned off.
- Arkhangelsk explosion of 2004
On March 16, 2004, an explosion destroyed a corner section of a nine-story Soviet-era apartment building in Arkhangelsk, Russia. It happened at 3:25 a.m. local time . The explosion occurred in 120 Avenue of the Soviet Cosmonauts in the October district of Arkhangelsk.The death toll from the...
: In ArkhangelskArkhangelsk , formerly called Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina river near its exit into the White Sea in the far north of European Russia. City districts spread for over along the banks of the...
, RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, on March 16, 2004, a gas explosion in an apartment killed 58 people. Reportedly, a former gas technician caused the explosion due to a dispute with his former employers.
- On May 11, 2004, the Stockline Plastics Factory in the Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow, in Scotland. Maryhill is a former Burgh. The population of Maryhill is around 52,000. Maryhill stretches over 7 miles along Maryhill Road...
area of GlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
was destroyed by a gas explosionOn May 11, 2004, the ICL Plastics factory , in the Woodside district of Glasgow in western Scotland, exploded, killing nine people, including two company directors, and injuring 33, 15 seriously...
. The cause was found by a Health and Safety ExecutiveThe Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
report to be the ignition of gas from a ruptured pipe. Nine people were killed and 37 were injured, 15 seriously.