Texas City Explosion 1947 Wrath of God: Texas City Explosion

It was the worst industrial disaster in American history, claiming the lives of 567 people. On the morning of April 16, 1947, the cargo ship SS Grandcamp was being loaded with ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer with explosive properties. As longshoreman loaded the volatile cargo on the ship, one of them smelled smoke. At 9:12 AM, the Grandcamp blew up, sending red-hot pieces of steel hurtling up to several thousand feet away. They cut through everything in their path, killing hundreds, injuring scores more, puncturing oil tanks, and sparking countless fires. TEXAS CITY EXPLOSION relives the disaster through contemporary accounts and the recollections of people who were fortunate to escape with their lives, as well as the emergency workers called in to prevent the disaster from becoming even worse. The incredible devastation is brought to life through photographs, many of them uncovered specifically for this program. For one terrible morning, the fires of hell took over a Texas town. THE WRATH OF GOD goes back to that fateful day to tell the complete story.