Australia's Deadliest Transport Explosion (Angelalla Creek Memorial, Western Queensland)
At 2150hrs (0950PM) on the 6th of September 2014, 30km south of Charleville, Queensland, a truck carrying 53 tonnes of ammonium nitrate crashed into Angelalla Creek by the historic railway bridge, igniting flames. As the truck driver escaped to safety, a passerby on the southern end and another truck on the northern end stopped to help. The passerby on the southern end went to a nearby station to alert authorities, subsequently fire and ambulance teams arrived at the scene. The ammonium nitrate was alight in flames for about an hour before a minor explosion occurred, alarming those involved to keep away from the fire.
As the fire and ambulance team backed away from the fire, a major explosion occurred. The explosion entirely destroyed the road bridge and railway bridge, that stood since 1897. The blast radius was more than 1km and the affect of the blast could be felt for over 30km away. A police car traveling to the scene was damaged about 1km away from the blast.
Eight people were injured. The truck driver, the four firefighters, one police officer, and two bystanders. It was described as a miracle that there were no fatalities. The truck driver received burns to 35% of his body while the firemen, police officers, and two bystanders suffered multiple fractures, lacerations, head and chest injuries, and deep burns from the explosion.
On that day Charleville firefighters went beyond the call of duty and have been recognised for their efforts; Commissioners Medal of Valour: LT Jake Sullivan, LT Peter Hackwood, Commissioners commendation for bravery: FF Nathan Thompson, FF Clinton McCarthy. The four firefighters also received the "Pride of Australia Award". Amongst the devastation a small fragment of the driver's bible was found; Pslam 31.
A memorial was later erected to remind highway commuters of the incident, recycling remaining pylons of the 1890s railway bridge found after the explosion.
Ammonium nitrate was the chemical found to be the cause of the Beirut explosion in August 2020.
Source: Murweh Shire Council, Queensland Government (www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/ex...), & Frontiers (www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.657996/full)
Australia's Deadliest Transport Explosion (Angelalla Creek Memorial, Western Queensland)
At 2150hrs (0950PM) on the 6th of September 2014, 30km south of Charleville, Queensland, a truck carrying 53 tonnes of ammonium nitrate crashed into Angelalla Creek by the historic railway bridge, igniting flames. As the truck driver escaped to safety, a passerby on the southern end and another truck on the northern end stopped to help. The passerby on the southern end went to a nearby station to alert authorities, subsequently fire and ambulance teams arrived at the scene. The ammonium nitrate was alight in flames for about an hour before a minor explosion occurred, alarming those involved to keep away from the fire.
As the fire and ambulance team backed away from the fire, a major explosion occurred. The explosion entirely destroyed the road bridge and railway bridge, that stood since 1897. The blast radius was more than 1km and the affect of the blast could be felt for over 30km away. A police car traveling to the scene was damaged about 1km away from the blast.
Eight people were injured. The truck driver, the four firefighters, one police officer, and two bystanders. It was described as a miracle that there were no fatalities. The truck driver received burns to 35% of his body while the firemen, police officers, and two bystanders suffered multiple fractures, lacerations, head and chest injuries, and deep burns from the explosion.
On that day Charleville firefighters went beyond the call of duty and have been recognised for their efforts; Commissioners Medal of Valour: LT Jake Sullivan, LT Peter Hackwood, Commissioners commendation for bravery: FF Nathan Thompson, FF Clinton McCarthy. The four firefighters also received the "Pride of Australia Award". Amongst the devastation a small fragment of the driver's bible was found; Pslam 31.
A memorial was later erected to remind highway commuters of the incident, recycling remaining pylons of the 1890s railway bridge found after the explosion.
Ammonium nitrate was the chemical found to be the cause of the Beirut explosion in August 2020.
Source: Murweh Shire Council, Queensland Government (www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/ex...), & Frontiers (www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.657996/full)