Zurich Ghost Tours and Dark History Guide
June 12, 1799 – A massive explosion at the grain depot on the Limmat River ripped through the waterfront, sending a fireball over the old town and claiming the lives of more than thirty dockworkers and nearby residents. The blast left a crater that still marks the spot where the depot once stood, and contemporary newspaper accounts describe the night sky turning an eerie orange as the flames devoured timber warehouses. The tragedy prompted a citywide reevaluation of safety standards and sparked a series of public works that reshaped Zurich ’s industrial landscape.