Bílá Desná dam failure commemoration marks 110th anniversary

A memorial event was held on September 19 to mark the 110th anniversary of the Bílá Desná dam failure in the Jizera Mountains. The disaster, which occurred on September 18, 1916, resulted in the deaths of 67 people and caused widespread destruction, including the loss of homes and livelihoods for hundreds of residents.

The commemoration drew approximately 3,000 attendees and featured cultural performances by groups such as Orpheus, the Tanvald Music School, and the Volunteer Musicians' Choir. The event was organized through a long-term collaboration between the towns of Desná and Albrechtice v Jizerských horách, along with partners including Lesy ČR, Povodí Labe, and the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.

Technical investigations into the 1916 catastrophe suggest the dam failed due to its placement on a geologically unsuitable profile consisting of highly permeable and compressible substrate. The failure caused a massive surge of water, forest debris, and boulders that devastated the local area.