The Deadly Tsunami of Sticky Molasses

In 1919, a massive tank burst in Boston, releasing a wave of molasses twenty-five feet high. This sticky flood rushed through the streets at thirty-five miles per hour, destroying buildings and proving that sugar syrup can be lethal.

On a surprisingly warm January day, a giant steel tank holding over two million gallons of molasses suddenly exploded. The resulting wave was so powerful it crushed nearby houses and even knocked a train off its tracks. Rescue efforts were slowed significantly by the waist-deep, cooling syrup that acted like quicksand. To this day, some locals swear that on hot summer days, you can still catch a faint, ghostly scent of molasses in the air.