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And it's amazing that parts of the silo are still standing considering how close it was to the explosion's epicenter.

Grain silos are actually built to withstand explosions. I am not an expert but I was explained as a kid that stored grain can create static electricity discharges that can result in self-ignition.

Wow, after reading your comment I started digging a bit and found this video from 2014. Those small explosions in the grain elevator look very similar to the explosions that happened before the big one in Beirut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDLkMDJXl_0

And a few more grain silo explosions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=794raoRHCzs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFc-JoJSJr0

https://www.kplctv.com/story/38545088/video-captures-moments...

Man, those things just love to explode. I didn't know that.

See pictures from the American midwest where after a tornado sometimes the only thing left standing is water towers and grain silos.

Something weird aerodynamically about upright tubes and vortex shedding or something like that.

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