Great Molasses Flood of 1919: Why This Deluge of Goo Was So Deadly
By Charles Q. Choi, Live Science Contributor | November 21, 2016 11:27am ET
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Great Molasses Flood of 1919: Why This Deluge of Goo Was So Deadly
In 1919, a collapsed molasses tank sent a towering wave of the sticky mess through the streets, ensnaring everything from humans to horses to homes. The wreckage of the tank can be seen in the upper-right of the image.
Credit: Boston Public Library
A bubbling flood of molasses that sent a towering wave of goo down the streets of Boston in 1919, catching everything from horses to humans in its sticky grasp, killing 21 people, injuring 150 more and flattening buildings in its wake. Now, scientists have figured out why the deluge of viscous sweetener was so deadly.
Cool temperatures may have caused the spilled molasses to flow more slowly, complicating attempts to rescue victims and to begin recovery and cleanup, researchers report in a new study.
http://www.livescience.com/56947-why-molasses-flood-1919-was-deadly.html