Retrospective Analysis of the Social Consequences of the 1910 Storm in the Caspian, Black and Azov Seas (original) (raw)

The article considers the consequences of a storm in the Caspian, Black and Azov Seas in the autumn, which led to icing of ships at sea, as well as to the death of the population in coastal areas due to flood surges. The Caspian Sea storm began on November 12 and lasted for 6-7 days due to the passage of a cyclone over all of southeastern Russia. Weather conditions on the three seas were the same-the storm was accompanied by a sharp drop in temperature to negative values, which led to the icing of a significant number of ships, longboats and barges, and the death of fishermen. The tragedy that broke out in the three southern seas could have been avoided, because there was information about the impending cyclone on November 6. It should be noted that this information was available only to captains and crew members of the courts, the population of the coastal territories was not aware of it. The victims of the maritime disaster were primarily members of the crews of ships caught in the raid, as well as fishermen. There is no summary data on the number of victims, but only in the Caspian Sea their number was more than 300. Wind waves also led to a large-scale surge flooding on the northwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, as a result of which coastal areas were flooded, with fishing villages located on them, fishing establishments and Kalmyk cattle breeder settlements. Residents of the flooded territories died not only as a result of the flood, but also in the absence of suitable houses, severe weather, cold and diseases. In the research, author defines the assistance provided to victims at sea and on land: at sea, the rescue operations were organized by the administration of shipping companies, and on the coastal territories, this work was provided and supervised by representatives of regional authorities (governors). Funds for saving ships at sea were obtained from shipping companies, while the money to help the residents of coastal territories came both from the state treasury (from the Emperor and the governor), and mutual assistance funds (voluntary donations). The consequence of this tragedy at sea was the approval of the icebreaking program for 1911-1913 in the southern seas. The materials for preparing the article were documents from the funds of the State Archives of the Krasnodar Krai, the State Archives of the Republic of Crimea, the Central State Archives of the Republic of Dagestan, as well as publications in the periodical press of that time.