Accidents-Worst-Deaths

Chemical industry Accident Deaths
500–600: People who died on September 21, 1921 at Oppau explosion in Germany. Occurred when a tower silo storing 4,500 tonnes of a mixture of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded at a BASF plant in Oppau, now part of Ludwigshafen, Germany. 2,000 more were injured.

3,000: People suffered various deformities, severe mercury poisoning symptoms or death from what became known as Minamata disease. The cause of all these was the 1932-1968 chemicla industry accident at the Minamata disaster which was caused by the dumping of mercury compounds in Minamata Bay, Japan. The Chisso Corporation, a fertilizer and later petrochemical company, was found responsible for polluting the bay for 37 years.

578 : Deaths on April 16, 1947 resulting from a Texas City Disaster, Texas. At 9:15 AM an explosion occurred aboard a docked ship named the Grandcamp. The explosion, and subsequent fires and explosions, is referred to as the worst industrial disaster in America. A minimum of people lost their lives and another 3,500 were injured as the blast shattered windows from as far away as 25 mi (40 km). Large steel pieces were thrown more than a mile from the dock. The origin of the explosion was fire in the cargo on board the ship. Detonation of 3,200 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer aboard the Grandcamp led to further explosions and fires. The fertilizer shipment was to aid the struggling farmers of Europe recovering from World War II. Although this industrial disaster was one of the largest involving ammonium nitrate, many others have been reported including a recent one in North Korea.

207: Fatalities resulting from a 1948 chemical tank wagon explosion within the BASF's Ludwigshafen, Germany site.

28: Deaths from the June 1, 1974 Flixborough disaster, England, an explosion at a chemical plant near the village of Flixborough which also seriously injured another 36.

3,000: pets and farm animals died after the July 10, 1976 Seveso disaster, in Seveso, Italy, in a small chemical manufacturing plant of ICMESA. Due to the release of dioxins into the atmosphere and throughout a large section of the Lombard Plain. As a result, 70,000 animals were slaughtered to prevent dioxins from entering the food chain. In addition, 193 people in the affected areas suffered from chloracne and other symptoms. The disaster lead to the Seveso Directive, which was issued by the European Community and imposed much harsher industrial regulations.

20,000: People who died following the December 3, 1984 Bhopal disaster in India, the largest industrial disaster on record. A faulty tank containing poisonous methyl isocyanate leaked at a Union Carbide plant. About 570,000 more suffered bodily damage. The disaster caused the region's human and animal populations severe health problems to the present.

23: Deaths resulting from October 23, 1989 Phillips Disaster. Explosion and fire killed and injured 314 in Pasadena, Texas. Registered 3.5 on the Richter scale.
29: Death from the September 21, 2001 Toulouse, France. An explosion at the AZF fertilizer factory. 2,500 more injured. Extensive structural damage to nearby neighbourhoods.

Construction industry Accidents/Deaths
89: Deaths from the January 20, 1909 Chicago Crib Disaster. During the construction of a water intake tunnel for the city of Chicago, a fire broke out on a temporary water crib used to access an intermediate point along the tunnel. The fire began in the dynamite magazine and burned the wooden dormitory that housed the tunnel workers. 46 workers survived the fire by jumping into the lake and climbing onto ice floes or the spoil heap near the crib. 29 men were burned beyond recognition, and approximately 60 men died. Most of the remainder drowned or froze to death in the lake and were not recovered.

51: Deaths of construction workers at the April 27, 1978 Willow Island disaster. A cooling tower for a power plant under construction in Willow Island, West Virginia collapsed, The cause was attributed to placing loads on recently poured concrete before it had cured sufficiently to withstand the loads. It is thought to be the largest construction accident in United States history.

Defense industry Accidents Deaths
320: Deaths on July 17, 1944 Port Chicago Disaster. A munitions explosion that killed occurred at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California.

53: Deaths from August 9, 1965 Little Rock AFB in Searcy, Arkansas. 53 contract workers were killed during a fire at a Titan missile silo. The cause of the fire was determined to be a welding rod damaging a hydraulic hose allowing hydraulic vapors to leak and spread throughout silo, which were then ignited by an open flame source.

Energy industry Accidents
• May 1962: The Centralia, Pennsylvania coal mine fire began, forcing the gradual evacuation of the Centralia borough. The fire continues to burn in the abandoned borough in 2010, 48 years later.

• March 1967: The Torrey Canyon oil supertanker was shipwrecked off the western coast of Cornwall, England, causing an environmental disaster. This was the first major oil spill at sea.

• March 28, 1979: Three Mile Island accident. Partial nuclear meltdown. Mechanical failures in the non-nuclear secondary system, followed by a stuck-open pilot-operated relief valve (PORV) in the primary system, allowed large amounts of reactor coolant to escape. Plant operators initially failed to recognize the loss of coolant, resulting in a partial meltdown. The reactor was brought under control but not before up to 481 PBq (13 million curies) of radioactive gases were released into the atmosphere.

• June 3, 1979: Ixtoc I oil spill, The Ixtoc I exploratory oil well suffered a blowout resulting in the third largest oil spill and the second largest accidental spill in history.

• November 20, 1980: A Texaco oil rig drilled into a salt mine transforming the Lake Peigneur, a freshwater lake before the accident, into a salt water lake.
19: Deaths on July 23, 1984 in Romeoville, Illinois, at the Union Oil refinery explosion.

50: Immediate deaths following the April 26, 1986 Chernobyl disaster. At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Prypiat, Ukraine a test on reactor number four goes out of control, resulting in a nuclear meltdown. The ensuing steam explosion and fire killed up to 50 people with estimates that there may be up to 4,000 additional cancer deaths over time among the approximately 600,000 most highly exposed people. Fallout could be detected as far away as Canada. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, covering portions of Belarus and Ukraine surrounding Prypiat, remains poisoned and mostly uninhabited. Prypiat itself was totally evacuated and remains as a ghost town.

600,000: Number of those most highly exposed people following the April 26, 1986 Chernobyl disaster. At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Prypiat, Ukraine a test on reactor number four goes out of control, resulting in a nuclear meltdown. The ensuing steam explosion and fire killed up to 50 people with estimates that there may be up to 4,000 additional cancer deaths over time among the approximately 600,000 most highly exposed people. Fallout could be detected as far away as Canada. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, covering portions of Belarus and Ukraine surrounding Prypiat, remains poisoned and mostly uninhabited. Prypiat itself was totally evacuated and remains as a ghost town.

4,000: Cancer deaths approximately resulting from the April 26, 1986 Chernobyl disaster. At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Prypiat, Ukraine a test on reactor number four goes out of control, resulting in a nuclear meltdown. The ensuing steam explosion and fire killed up to 50 people with estimates that there may be up to 4,000 additional cancer deaths over time among the approximately 600,000 most highly exposed people. Fallout could be detected as far away as Canada. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, covering portions of Belarus and Ukraine surrounding Prypiat, remains poisoned and mostly uninhabited. Prypiat itself was totally evacuated and remains as a ghost town.

7: Deaths at the May 5, 1988 Norco, Louisiana, Shell Oil refinery explosion after hydrocarbon gas escaped from a corroded pipe in a catalytic cracker and was ignited. Louisiana state police evacuated 2,800 residents from nearby neighborhoods. Seven workers were killed and 42 injured. The total cost arising from the Norco blast is estimated at US$ 706 million.

706 US Dollars: The total cost arising from the May 5, 1988 Norco, Louisiana, Shell Oil refinery explosion after hydrocarbon gas escaped from a corroded pipe in a catalytic cracker. Louisiana state police evacuated 2,800 residents from nearby neighborhoods. Seven workers were killed and 42 injured.

167: Deaths following the July 6, 1988 Piper Alpha disaster. An explosion and resulting fire on a North Sea oil production platform kills 167 men. Total insured loss is about US$ 3.4 billion. To date it is rated as the world's worst offshore oil disaster in terms both of lives lost and impact to industry.

10.8: million US gallons of oil dumped onto sea following the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history.

40.9: million litres of oil dumped onto sea following the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history.

250,000: barrels of oil dumped onto sea following the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history.

100,000: A conservative (minimum) estimate of seabirds which died from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

250,000: A liberal estimate of seabirds which died from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

2,800: A conservative estimate of sea otters which died from from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

12: A conservative estimate of river otters which died from from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

300: A conservative estimate of harbor seal which died from from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

247: A conservative estimate of bald eagles, which died from from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

22: A conservative estimate of orcas, which died from from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

Billions: Deaths of salmon and herring eggs from the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.
20: Minimum numner of years in which effects of the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill continues to be felt. The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef of crude oil into the sea. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. 250,000 barrels (40.9 million litres) of oil were dumped onto sea in that accident.

433,000: Barrels of crude oil per day which are being processed at the Texas City Refinery. An explosion occurred at a British Petroleum refinery in Texas City, Texas. It is the third largest refinery in the United States and one of the largest in the world, processing and accounting for 3% of that nation's gasoline supply. Over 100 were injured, and 15 were confirmed dead, including employees of the Fluor Corporation as well as BP. BP has since accepted that its employees contributed to the accident. Several level indicators failed, leading to overfilling of a knock out drum, and light hydrocarbons concentrated at ground level throughout the area. A nearby running diesel truck set off the explosion.

15: Deaths after the Texas City Refinery Explosion in May 2005.

£750 million: Total damages forecasted following the December 11, 2005 Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal fire. A series of explosions at the Buncefield oil storage depot, described as the largest peacetime explosion in Europe, devastated the terminal and many surrounding properties. There were no fatalities.

5: Deaths after the February 7, 2010 Connecticut power plant explosion. A large explosion occurred at a Kleen Energy Systems 620-megawatt, Siemens combined cycle gas- and oil- fired power plant in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. Preliminary reports attributed the cause of the explosion to a test of the plant's energy systems.[14] The plant was still under construction and scheduled to start supplying energy in June 2010.[15] The number of injuries was eventually established to be 27.[16] Five people died in the explosion.

11: Deaths from the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. 11 oil platform workers died in an explosion and fire that resulted in a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, considered the largest offshore spill in U.S. history.

Food industry
18: Deaths on May 2, 1878 after the Washburn "A" Mill in Minneapolis was destroyed by a flour dust explosion. The mill was rebuilt with updated technology. The explosion led to new safety standards in the milling industry.

21: Deaths on January 15, 1919 following The Boston Molasses Disaster. A large molasses tank burst and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h), killing 21 and injuring 150. The event has entered local folklore, and residents claim that on hot summer days the area still smells of molasses.

25: Deaths on September 3, 1991at the Hamlet chicken processing plant fire, where locked doors trapped workers in a burning processing plant, causing 25 deaths.
13: Deaths on February 7, 2008 at the 2008 Georgia sugar refinery explosion in Port Wentworth, Georgia, United States. Thirteen people were killed and 42 injured when a dust explosion occurred at a sugar refinery owned by Imperial Sugar.

Manufacturing industry
133: Deaths following the January 10, 1860 Pemberton Mill accident. Pemberton Mill accident was a large factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts that collapsed without warning. An estimated. 166 more were injured.

58:Deaths from March 20, 1905 Grover Shoe Factory disaster , a boiler explosion, building collapse and fire that killed 58 people and injured 150 in Brockton, Massachusetts.

100: Deaths (at least) following the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City. This was a major industrial disaster in the U.S., causing the death of more than one hundred garment workers who either died in the fire or jumped to their deaths. The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, which fought for better working conditions for sweatshop workers in that industry.

188: Deaths following the May 10, 1993 Kader Toy Factory fire. A fire started in a poorly built factory in Thailand. Exit doors were locked and the stairwell collapsed. 188 workers were killed, mostly young women.
22: Deaths from May 13, 2000 Enschede fireworks disaster. A fire and explosion at a fireworks depot in Enschede, Netherlands leaves 22 people dead and 947 injured. About 1,500 homes are damaged or destroyed. The damage is estimated to be over US$ 300 million in insured losses.

32: Deaths from April 18, 2007 Qinghe Special Steel Corporation disaster. A ladle holding molten steel separated from the overhead iron rail, fell, tipped, and killed 32 workers, injuring another 6.

Mining industry Deaths
1,099: Deaths of workers who died, March 10, 1906 at the Courrières mine disaster in Courrières, France. The worst mine accident ever in Europe.

1,549: Workers who died at Benxihu Colliery disaster in Benxi, Liaoning, China, on April 26, 1942, in the worst coal mine accident ever in the world.

300: Miners who died on May 28, 1965 at the Dhanbad coal mine disaster took place in Jharkhand, India.

October 21, 1966: Aberfan disaster was a catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil-tip that occurred in the Welsh village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
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