BBC Homepage. This is a list of fireworks accidents and incidents: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Documents circulated online appeared to show that customs officials sent letters to the judiciary seeking guidance at least six times from 2014 to 2017. Mr Koraytem and the director general of Lebanese Customs, Badri Daher, said their warnings about the danger posed by the stored ammonium nitrate and calls for it to be removed were repeatedly ignored. However, if you have a large amount of material lying around for a long time it begins to decay. During the display, air-burst shells outlined each of the continents in a pyrotechnic depiction of the Earth's landmasses. Video captures huge California fireworks explosion. Two hundred and sixty feet of the bridge collapsed, sending vehicles plunging more than a hundred feet to the ground. What follows is an act of stupidity that ultimately sent him to prison for over three years. Additionally, seventeen area residents were injured in the blast, and the explosion ultimately cost the town one hundred and forty million dollars worth of damage. Militants have made bombs with it in the past. The Enschede fireworks disaster was a catastrophic fireworks explosion on 13 May 2000 in Enschede, the Netherlands. Market data provided by Factset. And lots of gleeful screaming, cheering, and hollering. Read about our approach to external linking. According to a list of confirmed casualties released by the Ministry of Health, at least five nurses also died. A newlywed husband and father was killed in front of his family when some backyard fireworks exploded and hit him in the throat. Rogers decided to light one of the large fireworks that was for sale in the tent, causing a massive explosion as the firework went off in a small space that was full of people and explosives. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The Lebanon-based cruise ship agency Abou Merhi said two people died and seven were injured when its Orient Queen ship was severely damaged by the blast. The same show included the "World Islands" resort in the Persian Gulf. What is ammonium nitrate and how dangerous is it? Most fireworks are launched from rows of steel tubes secured in troughs of sand. Now an annual event, the "Yonshakudama" shell is loaded into a pipe canon every 9th and 10th September. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS Steamboat Springs has officially taken the throne as the site of the world's largest aerial firework. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The government has ordered officials at the port who oversaw the storage of the ammonium nitrate to be put under house arrest pending the completion of the investigation. There are also reports of one American and two Egyptians killed in the blast, while a two-year-old boy from Australia has been confirmed dead. Suddenly, a tiny spark from one of the sparklers fell into a bag of unused fireworks, which exploded at ground level. President Aoun promised a transparent investigation into the blast and at least 20 people have been arrested so far. Christina Conlon of Guinness said she verified the shell launched Saturday was the world's largest. The best beach in Britain that you've never heard of: Seaside town is braced for tourism boom after Kate Garraway reveals Derek's heartbreaking words when they thought he had just minutes left to live. Especially since during the split-second after it explodes, it looks like an exploding star. The last photo of the firefighters from the #Beirut Fire Department. To launch the massive firework, the team had to use an equally massive mortar; one that was more than five feet wide and 26 feet deep. In California, a man died from an illegal fireworks explosion near Los Angeles. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is there one Do YOU know your Adam and Eve from your Ruby Murray? "We requested that it be re-exported but that did not happen. There is now a huge crater where the warehouse storing the ammonium nitrate once stood, Residential buildings near the port were severely damaged by the explosion, Lebanese President Michel Aoun vowed to hold those responsible to account, white smoke could be seen billowing from Warehouse 12, Before-and-after images of Beirut explosion, A similar amount of the chemical arrived on a Moldovan-flagged cargo ship, the MV Rhosus. Video, 00:00:31Fifth largest refinery in US catches fire, Huge fire at California fuel facility. This massive firework shell was launched for the United Arab Emirates 2018 New Years Celebration, and dazzled millions of tourists with its beautiful display. In 2013, a truck carrying Chinese New Year fireworks exploded and destroyed part of an elevated highway bridge in China's Henan Province. U.S. news Video shows fireworks explosion in Maryland that led to 4th of July show cancellations Workers were beginning to set up on the beach for one of Ocean City's two holiday firework. Borden said getting the area plowed was more trouble than setting up the firework itself. Read about our approach to external linking. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Prince Harry opens up about drug use, saying marijuana 'really helped' him but cocaine and alcohol was 'more 'I got picked on quite a lot': Prince Harry opens up about having his nose broken on the rugby pitch during What will the next pandemic be? Explosives sent the rocket into the air at a speed of 300 miles-per-hour, rising almost a mile up before exploding to mark the finale of the Night Extravaganza on Howelson Hill, billed as the signature event of the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival. Today well be taking a look at 6 of the largest fireworks in the world and learning what sets each dazzling explosion apart. Other colours triggered smelling and tasting clouds of commensurately coloured apple, cherry and strawberry mist, along with peach snow, "floating oranges" (thousands of bubbles filled with Seville-orange-flavoured smoke) and edible banana confetti. A massive cache of fireworks exploded in a house near Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, killing two people and injuring several others as well as a horse. Attendees at this years Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, were treated to something magical: the worlds largest-ever firework. The comments below have not been moderated. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The creeping TikTok bans, Hong Kong skyscraper fire seen on city's skyline. The former world record for the largest firework was set in the United Arab Emirates in 2018 with a 2,397-pound shell. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. She was rumored to have been sentenced to death by breaking on the wheel, only to break the wheel with a single touch. A large amount of stored fireworks ignited and caused the explosion in a residential neighbourhood. or redistributed. The resulting blaze quickly got out of control and burned for over five hours before firefighters were able to contain it. The explosion happened when a crew of five men were working on a truck that contained several tons of fireworks for the town's annual 4th of July celebration. The skies over Steamboat Springs, Colorado, erupted in red as the world's largest firework launched at the city's annual winter carnival. Even so, Sivakasi remains a dangerous and volatile region, with small blasts at factories occurring almost every month. During a ceremony after the launch to present Borden and his team with their certificate, Conlon said they showed tenacity and perseverance in coming back after last year's failed attempt. Tim Borden of Steamboat Springs headed the team that developed the firework over seven years. As the fireworks light up, a blast is seen going in all directions, prompting adults to grab the children and move for cover. The framework of this Catherine Wheel was carefully designed to only spin from the propulsion of the pyrotechnics attached to it, which required meticulous engineering to pull off. See the largest firework ever set off in North America soar into the night sky and burst in glorious color above Steamboat Springs, Colorado to celebrate the annual winter carnival. Video, 00:01:23Watch: Matt Hancock message row in 83 seconds, One-minute World News. Mr Bonfils, who was involved in restoring buildings damaged in the city during the civil war, was broadcasting video of the incident live on Facebook after the first explosion but was injured in the second and later died. Below is a video of the massive aerial blast, which will leave your jaw firmly in the slack position. On July 4, 2007, 41-year-old Tampa resident Tony Glenn Rogers wandered into the Galaxy Fireworks Tent in Port Richey, Florida. Twenty-three people tragically died in the disaster, with another nine hundred and forty-seven people getting severely injured by the blast. Pyrotechnicians, James Cowden Widmann, Eric Krug, Ed MacArthur, and Tim Bordenall from the USbuilt and set off the firework. CAUTION: Faint swearing from the crowd as it goes off.To watch 360 degree videos, you'll need the latest version of Chrome, Opera, Firefox, or Internet Explorer on your computer. Continue with Recommended Cookies, FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom. Shortly after 18:00 (15:00 GMT), the roof of the warehouse caught alight and there was a large initial explosion, followed by a series of smaller blasts that some witnesses said sounded like fireworks going off. Fortunately, someone caught the whole thing on video: The town of Sivakasi in southern India is known as the "fireworks capital" of India, so it was really only a matter of time before tragedy struck one of the more than seven hundred fireworks factories in that region. Injuries related to the handling of fireworks are common on July 4. On mobile, use the latest version of the YouTube app for Android or iOS.Be Smarter. The warehouse where the initial fire and explosions were observed was obliterated and an adjacent grain silo was heavily damaged. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. For the London, UK, New Year's Eve display of 201314, fireworks were complemented by taste and smell. Guinness World Records was on hand at the Carnival, held in February of this year, to certify that the ball of shiny boom boom was indeed the largest ever. The accident started when a lit firework misfired and landed in the fireworks-laden truck. A fire appears to have triggered the explosion of the ammonium nitrate in Beirut. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. Video, 00:01:37, Thanks, but no big speech, in Ken Bruce's sign off, Tear gas fired at Greece train crash protesters. "The real problem is that over time it will absorb little bits of moisture and it eventually turns into an enormous rock," Andrea Sella, professor of chemistry at University College London, told the BBC. The blast occurred during a celebration as they were attempting to light fireworks on a front lawn. But it can also be combined with fuel oils to create an explosive used in the mining and construction industries. Video, 00:00:51Australia's 'biggest drug bust' nets $700m of cocaine, Thanks, but no big speech, in Ken Bruce's sign off. The largest firework in the world is seen rising over a winter festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on Saturday, The firework is seen rising about Steamboat. On mobile, use the latest version of the YouTube app for Android or iOS. Youtube - Fireworks in the world The Biggest Firework Explosion Ever! Video, 00:00:51, Australia's 'biggest drug bust' nets $700m of cocaine, Thanks, but no big speech, in Ken Bruce's sign off. In the worst mining disaster in American history, an underground explosion kills 362 out of the 380 men and boys working that day. Its shell, which measured 62 inches, or a little more than five feet in diameter, was set off from a 26-foot tube buried in Emerald Mountain, overlooking the city, Explosives sent the rocket into the air at a speed of 300 miles-per-hour, rising almost a mile up, The initial explosion is seen, marking the finale of the Winter Carnival Night Extravaganza, The firework is seen in full bloom just after peaked above Emerald Mountain, The last of the firework dissipates over Emerald Mountain as an official from theGuinness World Record book was on hand to present Steamboat Fireworks with an official certificate marking the milestone. Seven people were badly injured, five of whom were children, and one woman had major burns on over half of her body. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. The firework shell, which measured 62. Published: 06:28 GMT, 10 February 2020 | Updated: 06:28 GMT, 10 February 2020. Legal Statement. Lest you forget that fireworks are dangerous explosive devices, let's take a look at some of the worst firework-related disasters of all time. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Lebanese broadcaster LBCI and Reuters news agency cited sources as saying the fire was started by welding work being carried out on a hole in Warehouse 12. A YouTube video shows the extreme height the firework reached before exploding at 2,200 feet, KGO reports. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This makes it more dangerous because if a fire reaches it, the chemical reaction will be much more intense. They were not the only emergency workers to lose their lives during the explosion. Story tips can be sent tolouis.casiano@fox.com. Sirens wailed and a heavy scent of gunpowder lingered in the air well after the . This work of art proudly earned its place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest chocolate firework ever launched. "We've received many comments and inquiries today about whether this was a planned event. Video, 00:00:45Huge fire at California fuel facility, Fire breaks out on pitch moments before NFL game. A scuffed copy of the Koran. (Mortars are the tubes on the ground that shoot off the fireworks.). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It's Independence Day in the U.S.A., a day when Americans show their patriotic spirit with parades, barbecues, beer, and blowing stuff up! Video, 00:00:46Hong Kong skyscraper fire seen on city's skyline, Watch: Matt Hancock message row in 83 seconds. The Niagara Falls firework waterfall is still included in the festivals pyrotechnics show each August. Every year, the 4th of July makes up 90% of all fireworks sales in the nation, with Americans spending over nine hundred and thirty million dollars on the colorful explosives just to wish Uncle Sam a happy birthday. Video, 00:00:27, Fire breaks out on pitch moments before NFL game, WATCH: Huge fire burns after Indonesia depot explosion. In 2011, 41-year-old Jesse William Burley of Fargo, North Dakota was decapitated by a mortar-style firework when he attempted to set off fireworks to celebrate July 4th in his suburban neighborhood. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The 62 inch diameter spherical shell weighed 2800 pounds. Firefighter Sahar Fares was a first responder at the scene of the blast. "What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe," said the head of the Lebanese Red Cross, George Kettani. A custom-built, 26-foot long mortar launched the record-breaking 62-inch shell a mile into the air where the spectacular explosion momentarily turned the city from night time in to a particularly . The explosion's shockwave blew out windows at Beirut International Airport's passenger terminal, about 9km (5 miles) away from the port. All rights reserved. A fireworks explosion in front of a suburban home during the July Fourth holiday that caused young children and adults to flee was caught on security video. They all lost their lives trying to save us all from the tragedy we have become. . Experts say that ammonium nitrate is relatively safe when stored properly. . The blast destroyed the immediate dockside area, creating a crater approximately 140m (460ft) wide, which flooded with seawater. . "There are victims and casualties everywhere.". Just when you thought that fireworks couldnt get any more exciting, Switzerland delighted crowds with an astounding fireworks rocket that rained chocolates after detonation! The 2013 event broke the record for the most firework shells launched per minute as 479,651 shells were fired in just six minutes an incredible rate of 79,941 fireworks per minute. Instead of a mushroom cloud, however, the result of the mondo firework is just a ton of dazzling streaks of light. It comprised 10,000 sparklers bound tightly together in a ceramic pot with cardboard, dirt and kitchen tin foil. The Japanese "Yonshakudama" is one of the largest fireworks in the world. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. The blast occurred during a. Nineteen-year-old Austin McCloud was celebrating Independence Day with his wife, his son, his step-son (both of whom were toddlers at the time), and several other family members in their backyard, when a firework misfired and killed him instantly. Dog-E the Colorful Robot Dog Looks Friendly But Also Creepy, Frozen Soap Bubbles Are a Mesmerizing Winter Surprise, BMWs Color-Changing Concept Car Is a Futuristic Trip, Indeed, 3D-Printing Tech Lets You See an Operation on Your Own Organs, Composting Dead Bodies Is Now Legal in Six States, Sunspots Look Like the Mouths of DUNEs Sandworms, Theres an Impossible Upside-Down Building in Vancouver. 'Crazy' Baltimore gas explosion destroys homes. The nearly 2,800-pound. However, President Aoun has so far rejected the possibility of any international investigation and has suggested that "external interference through a rocket or bomb or other act" could also have led to the blast. A similar amount of the chemical arrived on a Moldovan-flagged cargo ship, the MV Rhosus, which docked in Beirut in 2013 after suffering technical problems while sailing from Georgia to Mozambique. Local pyrotechnic aficionado Tim Borden celebrated the successful launch of his almost 2,800 pound firework Saturday, Feb. 8, which burst in a dazzling display of red and white over Howelsen Hill at the finale of the Winter Carnival Night Extravaganza. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Photograph: Jose Luis Tolentino/AFP/Getty Images. The Rhosus was inspected, banned from leaving and was shortly afterwards abandoned by its owners, according to Shiparrested.com. Otherwise known as Guy Fawkes Night or Fireworks Night, it has become a tradition to set off fireworks on this date to represent the explosives that were prevented from killing King James I and hundreds of others. This particular factory, Om Sakthi Fireworks Industries, was operating without a valid license, to boot. January 20, 1909. Over twelve hundred and fifty local residents were left homeless in the wake of the fires that ravaged the surrounding town. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Over 15,000 explosions went off before the record-breaking grand finale. The Light Up 2018 party saw more than one Guinness World Record set that nightthe record for largest light and sound show on a single building was documented as well. An explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Mexico has killed at least 14 people, all but three of them children, in a poor Mexican village as it celebrated a religious festival. Read about our approach to external linking. It's been a year since one of the world's largest ever non-nuclear explosions ripped through Lebanon's capital, killing more than 200 people. ****************Humankind: Amazing moments that give us hope http://bit.ly/2MrPxvdHumankind: Stories worth sharing http://bit.ly/2FWYXNPAnimalkind: Cute, cuddly \u0026 curious animals http://bit.ly/2GdNf2jJust the FAQs: When news breaks, we break it down for you http://bit.ly/2Dw3Wnh The Wall: An in-depth examination of Donald Trumps border wall http://bit.ly/2sksl8F 01:18 - Source: CNN The world's largest firework. The largest Catherine wheel measured 32.044 m (105 ft 1.56 in) in diameter and was built by Lily Fireworks Factory, in Mqabba, Malta, on 18 June 2011. The disaster lead to several arrests, and the government also cracked down on the neighboring factories and shut down over one hundred and fifty additional fireworks facilities that were operating without valid permits. 'They analyzed the data compiled from the group's 2019 failure, and they made a couple of significant changes to the structure of the shell and the lift inside the mortar,' the release says. Fire-worker Send an email 19 Ottobre 2022. Ammonium nitrate is a crystal-like white solid commonly used as a source of nitrogen for agricultural fertiliser. Ontario fireworks explosion: Ontario, California, United States: 2 deaths, 1 injured: residential area 2021-07-04 LAPD firework disposal accident Los Angeles, California, United States 17 injuries: residential area 2022-07-14: Bastille Day: Cholet, France: 2 deaths, 7 injuries: Open air show A winter storm dumped more than 2 feet (0.61 meters) feet of snow on the 26-foot-long (7.92-meter-long) mortar used to launch the shell, and also made transporting the shell difficult. Built by the Lily Fireworks Factory, the largest Catherine Wheel in the world astounded the crowd by successfully completing 4 revolutions under its own propulsion. 2023 BBC. customs officials sent letters to the judiciary seeking guidance at least six times from 2014 to 2017, investigative journalist Riyad Qobaissi says these letters did not follow the right procedures. The town of Ontario, California is located about 40 miles (64km) away from Los Angeles. The former world record for the largest firework was set in the United Arab Emirates in 2018 with a 2,397-pound shell (pictured), Revellers brought in 2018 with the previous record-holder in the United Arab Emirates, which was the centerpiece of New Year celebrations at the time. Its cargo was reportedly transferred to Warehouse 12 following a court order, and should have been disposed of or resold. Largely thought to be the worst fireworks disaster in history, the 2000 Vuurwerkramp (Dutch for "Fireworks Disaster") occurred at a fireworks factory that was inexplicably located in a residential area of Enshede, Netherlands. The pyrotechnics was entered into the Guinness World Records for the 'largest aerial firework shell', according to GlobalNews. The structure was free-standing and the Catherine wheel completed 4 revolutions under its own propulsion. The massive firework shell weighed in at nearly 28,000 pounds, was more than 5 feet in diameter. List of fireworks accidents and incidents, 2016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosion, List of accidents and disasters by death toll, "Cleveland's Saddest Fourth: The 1908 S. S. Kresge Fireworks Explosion=", "25 years later, memories of Scottown fireworks explosion are still fresh", "Brazil, Mexico And Other Deadly Nightclub Fires In Latin America", "Philippine fireworks factory explosion kills at least 8, injures 70 more", "2 die in fireworks factory blast near Montreal", "One dead and 380 injured after Philippines firework displays", "24 doden, tientallen gewonden bij vuurwerkexplosies Mexico", "2 Dead, 1 Injured in Southern California Fireworks Explosion That Caused Massive Fire", "Man accused of storing 16 tons of fireworks at home, including devices that later blew up and injured 17", "House Exploded in Blitar, 4 Killed, 13 Injured, Including Babies - advertise.biz.id", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_fireworks_accidents_and_incidents&oldid=1142840457, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, C. N. Romaine & Brothers fireworks factory explosion, Arnold Cigar Store causing the Great Nampa Fire, Pennsylvania Fireworks Display Company factory explosion, Carpentersville Fireworks Company explosion, Melrose Display Fireworks Company explosion, explosion in an illegal fireworks factory, accidents in a number of fireworks factories, Independence Professional Fireworks factory explosion, 1 death, 380 injuries, thousands displaced, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 17:26. ago Please note these rules: If this post declares something as a fact/proof is required. Other shoppers ran for their lives, many were injured, and one man was nearly killed. One man died at the scene, the other three passed away later at the hospital, and several firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation. Video, 00:00:55'Crazy' Baltimore gas explosion destroys homes, Fifth largest refinery in US catches fire. pic.twitter.com/qhOGdIjmEI. Catherine Wheel fireworks are named after Catherine of Alexandria. Or, perhaps, more ominously, a nuclear bomb blast in the sky. In videos posted on social media white smoke could be seen billowing from Warehouse 12, next to the port's huge grain silos. One of those fireworks creates an explosion in the sky almost a kilometer long 23K 350 350 comments Best Add a Comment AutoModerator 8 mo. Footage from the night showed the 56-inch-wide firework soaring into the sky and exploding into spectacular color above Al Marjan Island. All rights reserved. That, in turn, lights up a box of fireworks nearby, causing an explosion. The worlds largest firework was set off in Steamboat Springs, CO on Saturday. Video and photo thanks to Judith Castro via Facebook. On any given day in Beirut's worst-affected. 2023 FOX Television Stations, The heaviest snow is behind us heading into the weekend, Snow storm shuts down Detroit Metro Airport, Power outages hit Metro Detroit hard as winter storm pounds area, WATCH - Jennifer Hammond talks with Detroit Titans guard Antoine Davis after coming up just short of the NCAA all-time scoring record, Wayne County woman wins $1 million after 'random urge' to buy Michigan Lottery ticket, Inside the Paint Bus - an art studio on wheels born in Detroit, New 5G cell tower on Wyandotte elemntary school has parents livid as meeting turns hostile, Giant bug found at an Arkansas Walmart identified as a Jurassic-era insect, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says. The Lebanese government has resigned amid growing public anger following a devastating explosion in Beirut on 4 August that killed at least 200 people and injured around 5,000 others. No photos of the record-breaking launch have been publicized, making the event even more mysterious. Read about our approach to external linking. 'Everything was . More than 200 people were killed, including at the port and further afield. If a firework . An official from Guinness World Records presented a certificate to Tim Borden (center) and his team at Steamboat Fireworks, which was successful the second time around after a failed launch in 2019, A picture of the shell of the largest firework in the world before it was detonated Saturday. The show includes over 40,000 shells, and more than 3 million people watch the spectacle. The creeping TikTok bans. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The afternoon blast scattered debris and shattered glass throughout the Ontario neighborhood. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. Video, 00:01:23, Watch: Matt Hancock message row in 83 seconds, Isabel Oakeshott: Why I leaked Hancock's messages. Not so shipshape! Largest Catherine Wheel Size: 105 feet 1.56 inches in diameter Year Launched: 2011 Located: Mqabba, Malta Event: Village Feast On mobile, use the latest version of the YouTube app for Android or iOS. Though only one fireman lost his life, another thirty-four firefighters suffered severe health problems due to burns and smoke inhalation. Video, 00:01:03One-minute World News, Isabel Oakeshott: Why I leaked Hancock's messages. Food scientists Bompas & Parr were at the heart of this creation, and while all fireworks have some element of cordite smoke and taste, this was the first display to match fruit smells and flavours to the audio-visual elements. Taking the form of a map of the world via 300 islands, the view from above the islands showed all seven continents of the world. The aftermath showed a gruesome scene of bodies and debris littering a one hundred meter radius. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The creeping TikTok bans, Hong Kong skyscraper fire seen on city's skyline. "If you are or know someone in this video please let us know if everyone involved is safe.". In 2013, sixteen people were killed and hundreds more were injured when a truck carrying fireworks for a religious ceremony exploded in a forty-three thousand square foot open-air marketplace in Mexico. Today we'll be taking a look at 6 of the largest fireworks in the world and learning what sets each dazzling explosion apart. Among the dead who have been identified was Jean-Marc Bonfils, a Beirut-born French architect. The fire started in 2012, when workers were mixing dangerous chemicals in a very hot room. French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot said that France and Lebanon were united in grief at his death. STEAMBOAT Springs, Colorado, was briefly home to the world's largest firework on 8 February. The largest firework in the world, weighing almost 2,800 pounds, lit the skies over a winter festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on Saturday. Prime Minister Diab described the circumstances that led to the explosion as "unacceptable" but offered his government's resignation six days later. "Whatever the precise charge size, this is unquestionably one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, far bigger than any conventional weapon," said Professor Andy Tyas, an expert on blast protection engineering.