Boston Molasses Flood vs. Karachi Factory Fire

            The molasses flood that occurred in Boston in 1919 and the factory fire that happened in Karachi, Pakistan last year are similar in a few ways. In September of 2012 a fire broke out in a textile factory in the garment district of Karachi, Pakistan. The fire killed almost 300 people. The Boston molasses flood resulted in the death of  21 people and the injury of 150 more. Both disasters could have been prevented. Local residents and even employees voiced their concern of the leaking molasses tank before it burst. In the Karachi factory a 2007 report claimed that the factory needed better fire protection. Over the next few years the owners refused many inspections of the factory. Many of doors were locked shut and most windows had metal bars on them when the fire began. In Boston rescue workers arrived quickly and soldiers aboard the USS Nantucket also helped save those trapped in the molasses. However in Pakistan firefighters did not arrive until 75 minutes after the fire broke out, and by that time it was too late to save most of the people still trapped in the factory. the fire was believed to have begun when a boiler exploded and ignited chemicals being stored in the factory. The cause of the flood in Boston was the poorly constructed and maintained tank. Both of these disasters caused many deaths but were preventable.