London Beer Flood: 1814 Disaster Kills 8, Spills 320,000 Gallons on Streets

• On October 17, 1814, a massive beer tank burst at Meux & Company Brewery on Tottenham Court Road, London.
• Over 320,000 gallons (470,000 liters) of fermenting beer flooded the densely populated St Giles Rookery area.
• The disaster caused a 15-foot wave, collapsing houses and a pub wall, leading to 8 immediate deaths.
• One person later died from alcohol poisoning after many drank the free-flowing beer.
• The incident, deemed an 'Act of God,' highlighted early industrial safety failures and led to changes in brewing vats.

Why It Matters: The 1814 London Beer Flood was a bizarre industrial disaster killing 9 and changing brewing safety.