London Beer Flood

The Meux and Co. Brewery on Tottenham Court Road had one of the largest beer vats in the city, held together by metal hoops. Smaller vats were also housed in the same building. The vat was showing signs of age: the metal hoops snapped and beer exploded into the building, causing the other beer vats to rupture. Approximately 8,500 barrels of beer smashed through the brick wall and rushed into the surrounding streets of St. Giles. Eight people died.

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