History Today: When the great beer flood of 1814 unleashed mayhem on London's streets

One of London’s strangest disasters struck when a massive vat of beer burst at the Meux and Company Brewery on Tottenham Court Road on October 17, 1814.

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series,  History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

On this day in 1989, the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Canada made history by becoming the second country in the world to fully legalise recreational cannabis nationwide in 2018.

Here is all that took place on this day across the world.

A beer flood burst in the streets of London

One of London’s strangest disasters struck when a massive vat of beer burst at the Meux and Company Brewery on Tottenham Court Road on October 17, 1814. The accident unleashed a tidal wave of more than 320,000 gallons (1.47 million litres) of beer, flooding nearby streets and homes in the St. Giles district, which was one of the city’s poorest areas.

The catastrophe began when a 25-foot-tall wooden fermentation vat, holding thousands of barrels of porter, ruptured due to pressure buildup. The force caused other vats in the brewery to burst as well, releasing a torrent of dark beer that swept through streets, destroyed walls, and flooded basements.

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The flood caused eight deaths, most of them women and children who were trapped or drowned in their homes or cellars. Buildings in the area, already fragile and overcrowded, collapsed under the surge. In the immediate aftermath, locals reportedly scooped beer into containers or even drank it off the streets — an image both tragic and surreal.

A coroner’s inquest ruled the event an “Act of God,” absolving the brewery of responsibility. Meux and Company avoided financial ruin after successfully petitioning Parliament for tax relief on the lost beer.

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The London Beer Flood remains a bizarre yet sobering reminder of the risks of early industrialisation and poor safety standards. Today, it’s often cited as one of history’s most peculiar industrial disasters — a moment when London’s streets literally flowed with beer.

Loma Prieta earthquake rocked California

One of the most destructive earthquakes in the history of the United States took place on October 17, 1989. A massive 6.9 magnitude earthquake, Loma Prieta, struck the San Francisco Bay Area at 5:04 pm local time. The quake was named after the Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains where it originated.

The tremor lasted only about 15 seconds but caused massive devastation across the region. It struck just as millions of Americans were tuning in to watch Game 3 of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics at Candlestick Park, earning it the nickname the “World Series Quake.”

The earthquake caused widespread structural damage in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Watsonville. The Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland collapsed, killing 42 people, while a section of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge also gave way. Buildings crumbled in downtown Santa Cruz, fires broke out, and thousands were left homeless.

In total, the disaster killed 63 people, injured more than 3,700, and caused an estimated $6 billion in damage. Despite the destruction, experts noted that the toll could have been far higher — many lives were spared because people were at home watching the baseball game instead of commuting during rush hour.

The Loma Prieta earthquake led to sweeping changes in California’s building codes, emergency preparedness, and seismic research. It also accelerated retrofitting efforts for bridges and highways to withstand future quakes.

Cannabis was legalised in Canada

Canada made history by becoming the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to fully legalise recreational cannabis nationwide on October 17, 2018. The Cannabis Act, which came into effect the following day, allowed adults aged 18 and above to purchase, possess, and consume cannabis legally. It also permitted citizens to grow up to four cannabis plants per household for personal use. The government’s goal was to regulate the market, undercut illegal sales, and protect public health and youth.

Supporters hailed it as a progressive step towards ending decades of ineffective prohibition, reducing criminal justice costs, and opening up a lucrative economic opportunity. Critics, however, warned of potential public health risks, such as impaired driving and long-term mental health effects, particularly among young users.

The first legal cannabis sales began at midnight across several provinces, with long queues outside licensed stores and online portals overwhelmed by demand. The new market quickly became one of the largest in the world, generating billions in revenue and creating thousands of jobs.

Since 2018, Canada’s legal cannabis industry has evolved rapidly, with improvements in quality control, taxation, and research. However, it has also faced challenges — from overproduction and high taxes to competition with black-market sellers.

This Day, That Year

• Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

• British and French troops began the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War in 1854.