Revisiting the Johnstown Dam Catastrophe and Deluge of 1889

On Friday, May 31, 1889, the Johnstown Flood unfolded due to the catastrophic collapse of the South Fork Dam, situated along the southern branch of the Little Conemaugh River in Pennsylvania, United States.

This disastrous event occurred following an extended period of exceptionally intense rainfall, resulting in the discharge of a staggering 14.55 million cubic meters of water. The voluminous rush of water momentarily matched the average flow rate of the Mississippi River, leading to the tragic loss of 2,209 lives.