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When a Town Exploded: The Texas City Disaster That Shattered Lives
When a Town Exploded: The Texas City Disaster That Shattered Lives
A slow, hidden heat in 2,500 short tons of ammonium nitrate turned a working port into a deathtrap - and by 9:12 a.m. a two-ton anchor was airborne, landing 1.6 miles from the dock. How did a cigarette ember, banned cargo rules nearby, and sealed steam combine into the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history?
In this episode, we tell how Texas City's rapid postwar growth, absent regulations, and two ships loaded with explosive cargo set the stage for disaster, and why the single unresolved cause-how the initial fire…
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