On this day - 19 July
Historical items of interest as featured in the papers of the day.
Collapse of the Val di Stava dam
On July 19th 1985 two dams failed in Italy, near Stava, leading to 268 deaths. The upper dam broke first, leading to the lower dam collapsing, and vast amounts of water was released into the valley. The water continued to flow for around 4.2km (2.6 miles) until it reached the Avisio river. Destruction occurred all along the path of the water, with eight bridges and numerous buildings brought down.
The dams were found to be poorly maintained on investigation. It wasn't until 1992 that anyone was convicted in relation to this disaster, when 10 people were given prison sentences for their roles.
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