A molasses wave killed 21 people in Boston
In 1919, a 2.3-million-gallon molasses tank burst in Boston, creating a 35 mph wave that killed 21 people and devastated the neighborhood, leading to stricter building regulations.
In 1919, a massive tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst in Boston, unleashing a 25-foot-tall wave of sticky sweetness. This 35 mph torrent demolished buildings, ripped elevated train tracks from their supports, and tragically killed 21 people while injuring 150 others. Some victims drowned in the thick substance.
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