On December 1, 1930, a thick fog started to roll into Belgium which eventually covered the entire country as well as large swathes of Europe and the southeast of England. By December 3, 1930, the death toll from the fog in the Meuse Valley in Belgium rose to 64 people. It was particularly devastating in the heavily industrialized Meuse Valley:
The damage was immediate. Within three days, thousands of people in the Meuse Valley were suffering from respiratory problems, notably throat irritation, chest pains, coughing fits, difficulty breathing, increased adrenalin, nausea and vomiting.
Over 60 people suffering from heart or lung disease died in two days. Many of the victims were under 30 years old; the youngest one was only 20 years old and died while walking home from a party.
One of the worst hit areas was the town of Engis, which had already garnered a reputation as Belgium’s most polluted town, where 56 of the deaths happened.
It is not the only time there was a deadly smog, as the same article notes that "the Great Smog Of London in 1952 killed around 12,000 people, according to modern estimates." (See also, "When the smoke clears: The legacy of killer smogs"--American Association for the Advancement of Science).
The video, below, goes over the Meuse Valley incident, a similar incident in the U.S. in 1948, and even looks at a couple incidents in Africa where whole villages were wiped out by noxious gases apparently emitted by volcanoes.
VIDEO: "In 1930, A Mysterious Killer Fog Swept Across Europe"
Swegle Studios (18 min.)
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