Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

During the filling phase of an LPG storage area (mixture of 80% butane – 20% propane) comprising 2 spherical tanks of 2,400 m³, 4 of 1,600 m³ and 48 cylindrical tanks (5,000 m³), a pipeline at 8 to 4 bar ruptured. A 150 X 200 X 2 m was formed and ignited after 5 to 10 min at a flare that 120 – 150 m away from the leak site. The VCE caused the BLEVE of the two small spherical tanks after 5 minutes. A fire ball with a diameter of 600 m was formed at the ground level. The zone was destroyed and the populated decimated within a radius of 300 m. Successive explosions occurred until 11.00 am. The fragments of the spherical tanks were projected as far as 600 m as well as 12 fiery rocket shaped fragments (20 tonnes) of horizontally placed cylindrical tanks were projected at a distance of 1m to 1,200 m. More than 500 people died, 7,000 injured and 39,000 evacuated and 4,000 rescue workers were involved in the operations.