Throughout history, there have been numerous horrific disasters resulting in significant casualties, often attributed to identifiable causes. However, many disasters remain shrouded in mystery, leaving us puzzled about their origins…
Remarkable Accidents Recorded in History
The Great Molasses Flood in Boston (USA)
On January 15, 1919, many workers and residents of the North End neighborhood of Boston, predominantly Irish and Italian, stepped out of their homes to enjoy the midday sun. Suddenly, a loud explosion occurred as a massive iron tank belonging to Purity Distilling burst open, sending a column of molasses as high as a two-story building into the air, which then cascaded down onto the commercial streets of the city and flooded every alleyway. Numerous pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles found themselves slipping on the sticky roadway.
It is estimated that around 7.5 million liters of molasses were released, intended for rum production. Approximately 21 people, including men, women, and children, died after falling into the molasses or choking, while around 150 others were injured. Nearby buildings collapsed, and a section of railway was damaged. Horses were trapped in the molasses and unable to escape, forcing the police to shoot them to clear the way. The entirety of Boston was inundated with molasses for an entire week before the sticky substance finally receded.
(Photo: Farstrider)
A Fire Drill Gone Wrong in Gillingham (Kent, England)
Every year, firefighters in Gillingham, Kent (England), are tasked with constructing a wooden and tarpaulin “house” for a fire safety drill at Gillingham Park.
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Accompanying this event were several local teenage boys selected to participate in the drill. On June 11, 1929, nine boys aged between 10 and 14 and six firefighters dressed in formal attire climbed to the third floor of the temporary structure. The plan was to ignite the first floor of the house and execute a rescue operation for those trapped inside using ropes and ladders, followed by extinguishing the blaze with a fire hose.
However, unexpectedly, a fire erupted without anyone’s knowledge. While the spectators mistook the individuals inside for dummies, cheering and applauding, the firefighters panicked and rushed to extinguish the flames, believing there were real people trapped inside. This unusual fire resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals.
The Tunguska Meteor Explosion (Russia)
On June 30, 1908, a catastrophic explosion occurred near Podkamennaya, on the Tunguska River, now part of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia.
This explosion was caused by a comet fragment colliding with Earth. Although the comet fragment exploded and ignited before hitting the Earth’s surface, the aftermath was devastating. The energy released from this collision was estimated to be equivalent to 10 to 20 million tons of TNT, which is about 1,000 times the strength of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima (Japan) or comparable to the largest nuclear explosion in U.S. history, the Castle Bravo test. The Tunguska explosion devastated flora and fauna over an area exceeding 2,150 square kilometers.
(Photo: Farstrider)
The Mass Poisoning Incident in Basra (Iraq)
In September 1971, a ship carrying 90,000 tons of grains docked in Basra, Iraq. At that time, U.S. barley and Mexican wheat had been treated with methyl mercury to prevent spoilage, and the packaging bore careful warnings, but unfortunately, these warnings were written in English and Spanish.
Before the grains could be distributed to farmers, the bags were stolen right from the Basra docks and later sold as food to starving residents. The Iraqi government seemed bewildered by this illegal act or may have remained silent for other reasons.
Everything faded into obscurity until two years later when an American journalist investigated 6,530 hospitals with patients diagnosed with mercury poisoning, who were suspected to have consumed the contaminated grains. Officials admitted to only 459 deaths, but the actual death toll exceeded 6,000, with around 100,000 others suffering blindness, deafness, and brain damage from consuming the tainted grains.
The Chandka Wild Elephant Attack (India)
In the spring of 1972, the Chandka forest in India faced a severe drought, with steam rising from the ground. At that time, the outdoor temperature was stifling, fresh water was in short supply, and the villagers of Chandka requested local authorities to take control of their agricultural land to prevent wildlife destruction.
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By the summer of 1972, the drought worsened, and on July 10, 1972, the typically docile Chandka elephant herd suddenly turned aggressive and attacked five villages, wreaking havoc over a vast area, resulting in at least 24 fatalities under their stampede.
