Texas City disaster

The Texas City disaster occurred on April 16, 1947, when a cargo ship, the SS Grandcamp, caught fire while loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the port of Texas City, Texas. The fire caused a massive explosion, destroying the ship and nearby facilities, killing around 580 people, and injuring thousands. It created a chain reaction of explosions, leading to extensive damage in the surrounding area. This tragedy highlighted the dangers of handling hazardous materials and led to significant changes in safety regulations and emergency response protocols in industrial operations to prevent similar disasters in the future.