Tuesday, November 19, 2013

This Day in History: Nov 19, 1824: Thousands perish in St. Petersburg flood

 St. Petersburg Floods, Russia

On this day in 1824, a flood on the Neva River in Russia claims an estimated 10,000 lives.


 full-size image
 http://www.encspb.ru/image/2803983522/1

Winter came early to Russia in 1824. The very cold weather caused blocks of ice to form on the Neva River, near the city of St. Petersburg. Enough ice developed that the river's flow was nearly stopped for several weeks. Water backed up behind the ice, but did not freeze. As a result, when the weather briefly warmed, the ice jam broke apart and the water overwhelmed the city's dam.

 File:Floods in Saint-Petersburg.jpg
 File:Flood StPetersburg 1824.jpg

 

The flood of icy cold water was the worst in the city's history. Hundreds of carriages and horses were swept away suddenly. Four hundred soldiers stationed in barracks climbed to the roofs to escape the flood, but were all killed. The water's freezing temperatures made staying alive in it for any length of time impossible. At the Kronshtadt port, hundreds of sailors were killed. The surge of water was so powerful that several ships were thrown into the city's marketplace.


 http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2419/1509063772_a98bfa17bd_o.jpg

Much of the city's rich cultural history was lost in the flood. Valuable and irreplaceable books and art were damaged beyond repair. Even Czar Alexander I's royal palace suffered extensive damage, as water rose above the first floor of most of the city's buildings. Although exact numbers are impossible to determine, it is generally believed that as many as 10,000 people were killed.

1924 flood pictures:

File:Floods in Saint Petersburg 1903 006.jpg

 File:Floods in Saint Petersburg 1903 005.jpg

 File:Floods in Saint Petersburg 1924 001.jpg

 File:Floods in Saint Petersburg 1924 003.jpg

Taken from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thousands-perish-in-st-petersburg-flood [19.11.2013]

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