As of 2026-10-12, Texas City disaster tops the list with 581 deaths.
- #1 Texas City disaster — 581 deaths
1947 explosion
The Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the port of Texas City, Texas, United States, located in Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history and one of history's largest non-nuclear explosions. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #2 Oppau explosion — 559 deaths
1921 industrial disaster in the Weimar Republic
The Oppau explosion occurred on September 21, 1921, when approximately 4,500 tonnes of a mixture of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate fertilizer stored in a tower silo exploded at a BASF plant in Oppau, now part of Ludwigshafen, Germany, killing at least 560 people and injuring about 2,000 more. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #3 2020 Beirut explosions — 218 deaths
accidental ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
On 4 August 2020, a major explosion occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, caused by the ignition of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. The chemical, confiscated in 2014 from the cargo ship MV Rhosus and stored at the Port of Beirut without adequate safety measures for six years, detonated after a fire broke out in a nearby warehouse. The explosion resulted in at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and approximately 300,000 displaced people, alongside property damage estimated at US$15 billion. The blast... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #4 2015 Tianjin explosions — 173 deaths
explosions in Tianjin on 12 August 2015
On 12 August 2015, a series of explosions at the Port of Tianjin in Tianjin, Northern China, killed 173 people, according to official reports, and injured hundreds of others. The explosions occurred at a container storage station in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China. The first two explosions occurred 33 seconds apart. The second explosion was much larger and involved the detonation of about 800 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. Fires caused by the initial explosions continued to burn uncontrolled... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #5 2014 Kunshan explosion — 146 deaths
Dust explosion at a metals factory
The 2014 Kunshan explosion was a dust explosion that occurred at Zhongrong Metal Production Company, an automotive parts factory located in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China, on 2 August 2014. As of December 30, 2014, the explosion killed 146 workers and injured 114 others. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #6 1943 Filipstad explosion — 120 deaths
industrial disaster in Oslo, Norway
The 1943 Filipstad explosion was a fire in an ammunition store at Filipstad in Oslo on Sunday, 19 December 1943, during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. The fire started during the unloading of ammunition from the transport ship Selma. The estimated amount of exploded ammunition varies from 800 to 1,200 tons. A large number of shells and grenades were tossed into the air and spread over the city. There were around 40 Norwegian casualties and around 75 Germans were killed, and 400... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #7 1978 Spyros disaster — 76 deaths
major industrial disaster that occurred in Singapore
The Spyros disaster was a major industrial disaster that occurred in Singapore on 12 October 1978, where the Greek tanker Spyros exploded at Jurong Shipyard, killing 76 people and injuring 69 others. It remains the worst accident, in terms of lives lost, in Singapore's post-war history. It is also Singapore's worst industrial accident. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #8 2009 Sayano-Shushenskaya power station accident — 75 deaths
Major Russian power failure
On 17 August 2009, a turbine in the hydroelectric power station of the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam near Sayanogorsk in Russia failed catastrophically, killing 75 people and severely damaging the plant. The turbine hall was flooded, and a section of its roof collapsed. All but one of the ten turbines in the hall were destroyed or damaged. The entire power output of the plant, totalling 6,400 megawatts, was lost, leading to widespread power outages in the area. An official report on the accident was... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #9 Amuay tragedy — 55 deaths
Venezuelan refinery explosion
The Amuay tragedy was an explosion at PDVSA's Amuay Refinery, Paraguaná Refinery Complex in Punto Fijo, Venezuela. The explosion resulted in the death of at least 48 people and injured at least 151 others. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #10 2006 explosion at Lenin Mine — 41 deaths source Wikidata