10 Shocking Non-Water Floods That Caused Catastrophic Havoc
Floods are typically associated with water, but history is full of bizarre and catastrophic floods caused by substances that aren’t H2O.
From sticky molasses to fiery whiskey, these extraordinary floods remind us that sometimes nature and artificial disasters don’t adhere to the expected laws of physics.
The 1814 London Beer Flood
On October 17, 1814, London witnessed one of the most peculiar and catastrophic floods in history, the London Beer Flood. A massive vat at Meux & Co’s Horse Shoe Brewery ruptured, releasing a surge of beer that flowed through the city’s streets.
The deluge of porter flooded the St. Giles rookery, a slum area, and tragically took the lives of eight people, including five mourners at a wake.
The flood’s force destroyed buildings, and the once-bustling brewery’s reputation was left in tatters.
Although the incident led to a phase-out of wooden vats in the brewing industry, the beer flood remains one of the darkest and strangest accidents in the city’s history.
The 1875 Dublin Whiskey Flood
In Dublin, Ireland, on June 18, 1875, a disastrous whiskey flood unfolded in the Liberties neighborhood. A fire ignited at a warehouse containing 262,000 imperial gallons of whiskey.
The intense heat caused barrels to explode, sending a tidal wave of whiskey pouring through the streets. The flood was so fierce that it engulfed houses, leaving a thick stream of undiluted whiskey several inches deep.
The 1919 Boston Molasses Disaster
The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 stands as one of the most bizarre industrial disasters in history.
A massive storage tank containing 2.3 million gallons of molasses ruptured in Boston’s North End, releasing a sticky tidal wave that traveled at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
The molasses swept through the neighborhood, destroying everything in its path. The flood killed 21 people, injured 150, and left an indelible scent of molasses in the area for decades.
The 1919 Chocolate and Butter Flood in Brooklyn
On May 12, 1919, a fire broke out at the Rockwood & Company factory in Brooklyn, where large quantities of chocolate and butter were stored.
The intense heat from the flames melted the products, turning the factory floor into a slippery, molten mess. As the fire spread, the chocolate and butter flooded the streets, creating a sticky disaster.
The chocolate mixture, thickened with sugar, hardened around storm drains, causing a dangerous situation for firefighters trying to control the blaze. Local children were drawn to the street, mesmerized by the sight of a literal chocolate river.
Despite the chaos, no one was seriously injured, but the sight of a chocolate flood in Brooklyn is a story locals still talk about.
The 1991 Madison Butter Fire
On May 3, 1991, a massive fire broke out at the Central Storage and Warehouse Company in Madison, Wisconsin, where millions of pounds of government surplus butter were stored. The fire spread quickly, overwhelming the facility’s sprinklers.
As the fire raged on, the stored butter began to melt, and the containers holding it ruptured. A river of molten butter flowed through the streets, creating a greasy, gooey mess.
The flood was so massive that it posed a serious challenge to firefighters, who fought the blaze for days. Though no fatalities occurred, the image of a buttery river running down the streets of Madison is a surreal memory for many.
The 2000 Sydney Molasses Flood
In 2000, Sydney, Australia, witnessed its own molasses disaster, though this time it wasn’t on the scale of Boston’s infamous flood. A large molasses spill from a factory caused sticky syrup to pour down the streets.
The flood was caused by an industrial accident at a molasses factory, where an insufficiently sealed tank leaked molasses into the streets.
The 2007 Chocolate Factory Flood
In 2007, a fire broke out at a chocolate factory in the United Kingdom, causing molten chocolate to spill across the factory floor.
The intensity of the fire turned the chocolate into a viscous liquid, which flowed through the factory and into the surrounding streets. The flood was so intense that it took authorities hours to clean up the mess.
The 1927 Cereal Factory Flood
In 1927, a massive flood occurred at a cereal factory in the United States after a malfunctioning machine triggered a grain-and-sugar explosion.
The mixture of ingredients flooded the surrounding streets, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Workers were quickly evacuated, and the flood caused significant property damage.
The 1937 Rice Flood in Thailand
In 1937, Thailand experienced a strange flood when a rice storage facility burst, releasing massive amounts of rice onto the streets. The flood was particularly unusual because the rice was left unused and was swept into nearby rivers.
The 2018 Oil Spill Flood
In 2018, a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico led to an unexpected flood of crude oil reaching the shores. The oil spread across vast distances, polluting the waters and causing environmental damage.
The oil spill not only destroyed wildlife but also affected local communities, forcing many to evacuate. The disaster also raised concerns about future oil spills and their potential to cause widespread flooding in coastal areas.
Conclusion
These ten massive floods, though not caused by water, are proof that disasters can strike in the most unexpected ways.
From sticky molasses to fiery whiskey and molten butter, these bizarre floods disrupted lives, caused destruction, and left indelible marks on the history of human-made catastrophes.
As strange as they may seem, these incidents remind us of the fragility of systems, the unpredictable nature of industrial accidents, and the force of unexpected floods.
