You Will Be Surprised By These 10 Disastrous Floods In History Because They Don't Involve Water

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Imagine a flood, but instead of water, it's beer, whiskey, molasses, or even chocolate. Sounds like a scene from a quirky movie, right? Well, history has its way of turning the unexpected into reality.

From whiskey and beer to chocolate and butter, these incidents serve as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by the storage, transportation, and production of various substances. Through this post, let us explore 10 floods in history that did not involve water.

1. The Boston Molasses Flood (1919)
One of the most famous non-water floods in history is the Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. A storage tank holding over 2 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a wave of molasses through the streets of Boston. The flood resulted in 21 deaths and numerous injuries, as well as significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

2. The London Beer Flood (1814)
In 1814, a large vat containing over 135,000 gallons of beer burst at the Meux and Company Brewery in London. The resulting beer flood destroyed several buildings and killed at least eight people. The incident was later humorously referred to as the "London Beer Flood."

3. The Cadbury Chocolate Factory Flood (2009)
In 2009, the Cadbury chocolate factory in Marlbrook, England, experienced a flood of liquid chocolate. A storage tank containing melted chocolate overflowed, causing a river of chocolate to flow through the factory. While the incident did not result in any injuries, it did cause significant damage to the factory.

4. The Great Molasses Flood of Purity Distilling Company (1919)
Another infamous molasses flood occurred in Boston in 1919. A large storage tank holding over 2 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a wave of molasses through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h). The flood killed 21 people and injured 150 others, as well as causing extensive damage to buildings and vehicles.

5. The Butter Flood in Lake Erie (1929)
In 1929, a cargo ship carrying 200 tons of butter sank in Lake Erie. The butter spilled into the lake, creating a slick of greasy butter on the surface. The incident was not only a loss of valuable cargo but also posed environmental concerns due to the impact on the lake's ecosystem.

6. The Buffalo Creek Flood (1972)
In 1972, a coal ash slurry dam in West Virginia failed, releasing over 130 million gallons of coal waste into the Buffalo Creek valley. The flood killed 125 people, injured over 1,000 others, and caused extensive damage to homes, schools, and infrastructure.

7. The Ajka Alumina Plant Accident (2010)
In 2010, a containment pond at the Ajka Alumina Plant in Hungary burst, releasing over 700,000 cubic meters of red mud, a toxic byproduct of aluminum production. The flood killed 10 people, injured over 120 others, and caused extensive environmental damage.

8. The Mount Polley Mine Tailings Pond Breach (2014)
In 2014, a tailings pond at the Mount Polley copper and gold mine in British Columbia, Canada, breached, releasing over 24 million cubic meters of mining waste into nearby waterways. The flood caused significant environmental damage and raised concerns about the safety of tailings ponds.

9. The Orange Juice Flood in Florida (2017)
In 2017, a storage tank at an orange juice processing plant in Florida ruptured, spilling over 1 million gallons of orange juice into the surrounding area. The flood caused environmental damage and disrupted operations at the plant.

10. The Wine Lake in Italy (2019)
In 2019, a malfunction at a winery in Italy caused over 8,000 gallons of red wine to spill into the streets, creating a "wine lake." While no injuries were reported, the incident caused a significant cleanup effort and raised concerns about the environmental impact of the spill.

Therefore, floods are typically associated with water, these incidents serve as a reminder that other substances can also pose significant risks when they flood areas. Whether it's molasses, beer, chocolate, or mining waste, these incidents highlight the importance of proper storage, transportation, and management of hazardous substances to prevent future disasters.