Victoria Hall disaster

Victoria Hall disaster
Poster advertising the variety show at which the children died
Victoria Hall disaster is located in Tyne and Wear
Victoria Hall disaster
Location in Tyne and Wear
Date16 June 1883 (1883-06-16)
Time3 p.m.
LocationVictoria Hall, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
Coordinates54°54′12.3″N 01°22′44.8″W / 54.903417°N 1.379111°W / 54.903417; -1.379111
TypeCrowd crush
Deaths183
Grid referenceNZ398565
Summary: 183 children, aged between 3 and 14, were crushed to death in a rush to the stage when free toys were offered.

The Victoria Hall disaster occurred on 16 June 1883 at the Victoria Hall in Sunderland, England, when the distribution of free toys caused a crowd crush resulting in 183 children (aged between 3 and 14 years old) to be crushed to death due to compressive asphyxia.