Gas explosion

A balloon filled with gaseous hydrogen exploding.

A gas explosion is the ignition of a mixture of air and flammable gas, typically from a gas leak. In household accidents, the principal explosive gases are those used for heating or cooking purposes such as natural gas, methane, propane, butane. In industrial explosions, many other gases, like hydrogen, as well as evaporated (gaseous) gasoline or ethanol play an important role. Industrial gas explosions can be prevented with the use of intrinsic safety barriers to prevent ignition, or use of alternative energy.

Lower and upper explosive limits

Whether a mixture of air and gas is combustible depends on the air-to-fuel ratio. For each fuel, ignition occurs only within a certain range of concentration, known as the upper and lower flammability limits. For example, for methane and gasoline vapor, this range is 5-15% and 1.4-7.6% gas to air, respectively. An explosion can only occur when fuel concentration is within these limits.[citation needed]

List of gas explosions

The damaged roads after gas explosions in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on July 31, 2014.

1900–1950

1950–2000

2000s

2010s

2020s

Aftermath of the 2020 gas explosion in Rua de Santa Marta, Lisbon
Aftermath of the 2023 gas explosion in the Paris American Academy

See also

References

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  9. ↑ "Explosion Kills 9 in 2 Families" (PDF). The Knickerbocker News. January 10, 1968.
  10. ↑ "Case Details:Gas Explosion at a Subway Construction Site". Archived from the original on June 2, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  11. ↑ es:Ortuella#accidente de 1980 (Spanish language) Retrieved date on February 14, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Gas board may face big death blast claim". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham. June 10, 1983. p. 35. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ Morris, Michael (February 10, 1989). "Abbeystead victims to get £2.5m payout". The Guardian. London. p. 2. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Salt dome explosion rocked area near Brenham on April 7, 1992". ABC 13. April 7, 2020.
  15. ↑ "South Korea Gas Explosion Kills 83, Injures Up to 181: Asia: Leak is reportedly ignited by a spark from construction site. Many of the victims were students". Los Angeles Times. AP. April 28, 1995.
  16. ↑ de:Gasunfall in Bucheon
  17. ↑ "Horrific Ford Rouge power plant explosion happened 20 years ago today".
  18. ↑ Bowcott, Owen (August 25, 2005). "Transco fined £15m for gas pipe error that killed family". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Corrosion Failures: El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion". www.nace.org. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
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  26. ↑ Berry, Connor (November 25, 2012). "Springfield explosion cause: 'Human error,' Massachusetts fire marshal says". The Republican. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
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  30. ↑ Santora, Marc; Baker, Al (March 26, 2015). "East Village Explosion Ignites Fire, Fells Buildings and Injures at Least 19". The New York Times.
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  35. ↑ Knapp, Tom (July 3, 2017). "'It's really gone': Homeowner says she's in shock after gas explosion destroys her home in Manor Township". LancasterOnline. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Firefighter killed in gas explosion, fire near Madison". Associated Press. April 21, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Plan for Sun Prairie explosion site envisions housing, entertainment, hotel". December 23, 2019.
  38. ↑ Betancourt, Sarah (September 14, 2018). "One dead in Massachusetts after gas explosions ignite dozens of fires". The Guardian. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  39. ↑ n.a. (March 4, 2020). "Pipeline Transportation Safety Investigation Report P18H0088". Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Government of Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  40. ↑ Offenbar Gasleck: Tote und Verletzte nach Explosion in Paris (German)
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  50. ↑ "(Update 3) 1 Killed, 19 Injured in Fukushima Restaurant Blast". Jiji Press. July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  51. ↑ "1 Dead, 2 Seriously Injured: Major explosion in Baltimore with victims trapped". Fox Baltimore. August 10, 2020.
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  53. ↑ "Multiple people hurt in Fairfax County gas leak explosion". February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Seven hurt in Willesborough house explosion". May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Heysham explosion: Child dies and four adults injured in Lancashire blast". BBC News. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
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