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The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 killed 21 people when a tank containing 2.3 million gallons burst in Boston
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Dark HistoryMar 26, 2026

The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 killed 21 people when a tank containing 2.3 million gallons burst in Boston

A tsunami of molasses killed 21 people in Boston. The 50-foot tank exploded sending sticky waves everywhere. Molasses moved at 35 mph through city streets. People and horses got trapped in sticky syrup. The cleanup took months with salt water hoses.

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