education-101:Boson Molasses FloodThe Boston Molasses Flood (also called the Boston Molasses Disaste
education-101:Boson Molasses FloodThe Boston Molasses Flood (also called the Boston Molasses Disaster) happened on January 15, 1919. A holding tank containing more then 2 million gallons of molasses exploded, causing a 40 ft wave of molasses moving at about 35 miles an hour to flood the North End of Boston.The molasses was held in a poorly made tank. With the combination of increased pressure due to carbon dioxide build up during fermentation and an unseasonably warm day, the tank literally exploded.The explosion of the tank not only flooded the area with molasses, sweeping people, animals, and buildings off the ground, but it also sent hundreds of pieces of metal into the air which increased injuries.An uncounted number of animals, especially horses, were killed. 150 people were injured, and 21 people died as a result of the flood.Half of the people who were killed by the explosion died the day of the flood, mostly from falling debris and asphyxiation. The other half died later, from infection and injuries.Because of the unique nature of molasses, the initial flood of molasses was as damaging as a tidal wave, but once the molasses settled, it became gelatinous. Although the molasses was only waist deep, the viscosity of molasses made it difficult to escape from.The majority of the clean up took many weeks, using salt water from the harbor; the harbor stayed brown from the molasses until late summer. The rest of the clean up took an indefinitely long period time; workers tracked molasses into subways, rail lines, side walks, homes, businesses, and any where else they went. The entire city was slightly sticky and smelt mildly of molasses for years. -- source link