The fires of industry have long been stoked with sweat and toil. But often, they claim an even higher human price. Today, on the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident (profiled in pictures here), Britannica examines 10 of the world’s worst industrial disasters.

Bhopal

The single worst industrial accident in history occurred on Dec. 3, 1984, when some 45 tons of the dangerous gas methyl isocyanate escaped from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India. The gas drifted over the densely populated neighbourhoods around the plant, killing thousands of people immediately and creating a panic as tens of thousands of others attempted to flee Bhopal. The final death toll was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000, while a half million survivors suffered...