List of The Largest Artificial Non-nuclear Explosions - Before 1900

Before 1900

Braamfontein explosion

On 19 February 1896, an explosives train at Braamfontein station in Johannesburg, loaded with between 56 and 60 tons of blasting gelatine destined for the burgeoning gold mines of the Witwatersrand and having been standing for three and a half days in searing heat, was struck by a shunting train. The load exploded, leaving a crater in the Braamfontein rail yard 60 metres long, 50 metres wide and 8 metres deep. The explosion was heard up to 200 kilometres away. At least 62 people were killed, and more than 200 were injured. Surrounding suburbs were destroyed, and roughly 3,000 people lost their homes. Almost every window in Johannesburg was shattered.

Nanaimo mine explosion

An explosion on 3 May 1887 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, killed 150 miners.

Flood Rock explosion

On 10 October 1885 in New York City, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers detonated 140 000 kg of explosives on Flood Rock, annihilating the island, in order to clear the Hell Gate for the benefit of East River shipping traffic. The explosion sent a geyser of water 76 m in the air; the blast was felt as far away as Princeton, New Jersey. The explosion has incorrectly been described as "the largest planned explosion before testing began for the atomic bomb" — the detonation at the Battle of Messines was larger. Rubble from the detonation was used in 1890 to fill the gap between Great Mill Rock and Little Mill Rock, merging the two islands into a single island, Mill Rock.

Mobile magazine explosion

On 25 May 1865, in Mobile, Alabama, in the Southern United States, an ordnance depot (magazine) exploded, killing 300 people. This event occurred just after the end of the American Civil War, during the occupation of the city by victorious Federal troops.

Siege of Multan

On 30 December 1848, in Multan during the Second Anglo-Sikh War, "A shell from a mortar struck a mosque in the city which had been turned into a magazine and stored with 180 000 kg of gunpowder . It blew up with a tremendous explosion which shook the earth for many kilometers round, and darkened the air with smoke and fragments."

Siege of Almeida (1810)

On 26 August 1810, in Almeida, Portugal, during the Peninsular War phase of the Napoleonic Wars, French forces commanded by Marshall André Masséna laid siege to the garrison, commanded by British Brigadier General William Cox. A shell made a chance hit on the old castle, which was being used as the main powder magazine. It initially ignited some 4,000 prepared charges, which in turn ignited 68 000 kg of black powder and 1,000,000 musket cartridges. The ensuing explosion killed 600 defenders and wounded 300. The castle was razed to the ground and sections of the defenses were damaged. Unable to reply to the French cannonade without gunpowder, Cox was forced to capitulate the following day with the survivors of the blast and 100 cannon. The French lost 58 killed and 320 wounded during the operation.

Delft Explosion

About 40 tonnes of gunpowder exploded on 12 October 1654, destroying much of the city of Delft in the Netherlands. Over a hundred people were killed and thousands were wounded.

Destruction of the Parthenon

On 26 September 1687, the famous and until-then-intact Greek monument was destroyed when an Ottoman ammunition bunker inside was struck by a mortar. 300 Turkish soldiers were killed in the explosion.

Great Torrington, Devon

On 16 February 1646, 80 barrels (57.2 tons) of gunpowder were accidentally ignited by a stray spark during the Battle of Torrington in the English Civil War, destroying the church in which the magazine was located and killing several Royalists guards and a large number of Parliamentarian prisoners who were being held there. The explosion effectively ended the battle, bringing victory to the Parliamentarians. It narrowly missed killing the Parliamentarian commander, Sir Thomas Fairfax. Great damage was caused in the town.