On December 11, 1971 an explosion ripped through a tunnel being constructed under Lake Huron. 21 men were killed instantly and one worker died ten months later. The tunnel was being dug under Lake Huron for a new water source for Detroit. The tunnel stretched out 5 miles from the shore near Fort Gratiot a few miles north of Port Huron. During the digging the crew struck a pocket of methane gas and was ignited by a spark.
A memorial stands in Fort Gratiot County Park and bears the names of the 22 men that died that tragic December day. The tragedy resulted in stronger mining safety regulations and enforcement. It was one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Michigan history. The project was eventually completed and supplied and the 80 miles of water mains supply Detroit with 400 million gallons of water per day.
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