In northern England, the breaking of the Dale Dyke Dam causes catastrophic death and destruction

The brand-new Dale Dyke Dam, built to provide a reservoir for the rapidly expanding industrial town of Sheffield, in northern England, collaped as it was being filled for the first time. The resulting flood - known soon after as the "Great Sheffield Flood" - inundated large parts of the valley below, destroying hundreds of houses and killing 238 people. The disaster led to significant reforms in engineering standards in the United Kingdom. (By John Osborne)