[RayChuang88]

I really doubt it was low-yield suitcase nuke. For two reasons: 1) even a 0.02 kT nuclear explosion would result in a pulse of electromagnetic radiation that would immediately wipe out every cellphone or electronic device within 1 km of the explosion or disable it, and 2) the initial heat pulse from the explosion would have vaporized many of the containers within 200-300 meters of the explosion point.

[proust]

I completely forgot about the emp effect. Thanks.

[silverleaf]

And this- forgot about the EMP effect
At 10 Kt suitcase nuc
Everything within at least 1/3 mile or so would have been fried

And by today lethal radiation zone would be about 20 miles depending in winds

[SomeCallMeTim]

Looks to me like to me like one or two BLEVE’s. That’s a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. Basically, it’s when a liquid storage vessel over-heats and ruptures... The sudden loss of containment causes the liquid to rapidly expand into a vapor cloud, which then explodes.

They can be devastating.

Tianjin was a major source of chemical shipment in and out of China. There’s no telling what all might have been stored there. And, let’s just say.... Their safety standards are not “quite” as stringent as ours.

This event will cause a disruption in chemical transport and supply.