Floods

Inundations caused by the bursting of dams, overflow of rivers, and volcanic disturbances, have been numerous and universal. In England 3,000 perished 353, many seaports were destroyed 1014, and the Good win sands were formed by sea-encroachments 1100. The Low Countries have suffered most from the sea. Flanders was inundated and Ostend immersed 1108, the Texel submerged 1400, Dort and 100,000 people overwhelmed 1421, the dikes broke and 400,000 died 1530, Zealand lost 1,300, 1717, besides many smaller catastrophes. Catalonia, Spain, lost 50,000, 1617; Madrid suffered 1723; Navarre (2,000) 1787; and Lorca, Mercia (1,000), 1802. In 1813, 2,000 Turkish soldiers perished in the Danube at Widdin, and in Poland and Silesia 10,000 inhabitants were drowned. Other big floods of the century were at Danzic 1829, Vienna 1830, Canton 1833, France generally 1840 and 1846, India 1875, and Hungary 1879. At Johns town, Pa., by the bursting of a dam, 1889, 5,000 perished.