Typhoon Nina–Banqiao Dam Failure, 1975

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The Typhoon Nina–Banqiao Dam failure occurred in August 1975 in Henan Province, China. Typhoon Nina brought unprecedented rainfall, exceeding the area's annual precipitation by a significant margin. The Banqiao Dam, designed to withstand a "1,000-year" flood, was overwhelmed by the storm, leading to its collapse on August 8, 1975. This disaster resulted in a massive flood wave that inundated nearby towns, causing immediate and widespread destruction. The disaster's impact was exacerbated by the failure of 61 other dams, leading to one of the deadliest floods in history. Estimates suggest that between 26,000 and 240,000 people died, with many fatalities occurring due to subsequent epidemics and famine. The event highlighted significant engineering and policy failures, contributing to its severity. The Chinese government initially concealed details of the disaster, which were later revealed in the 1990s and declassified in 2005.