A fire aboard the French vessel SS Grandcamp ignited over 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate, causing a massive explosion that levels Texas City, Texas. The Grandcamp stored American fertilizer on its way to Europe when a small fire onboard began a chain reaction of explosions in and around the port city. Almost 600 people were killed and the city filed the first class action lawsuit against the United States government.
Year
1947
Date of Event
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