Disaster Area

It's the first night of winter on a windy night in Scotland when a loud noise broke the quiet over a small village. What followed was a fiery nightmare caused by the cruel intentions of others.  Videos: Air Crash Investigations: Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie Bombing: Smithsonian special on Paramount+ Articles and videos: AAIB report on Pan Am Flight 103 Skygods, by Robert Gandt Colonel Gaddafi 'ordered Lockerbie bombing' Anger at Lockerbie bomber welcome Pan Am Jet Crashes in Scotland, Killing 270 Libya Admits Culpability In Crash of Pan Am Plane Lockerbie and the worst Christmas imaginable New Charges in Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing Lockerbie bombing suspect is now in US custody Pan Am Flight 103 Terrorist Suspect in Custody for 1988 Bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland Syracuse University Remembrance Week Schedule 2023

In the third part of our story, we look at the train disaster caused by the tsunami and the aftermath of the disaster. Videos: Compilation in chronological order of videos of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami The man who Filmed the Tsunami - Shocking footage of the Indonesian disaster Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions: Sri Lanka Train Disaster 18 Years Later The Wave That Shook the World Tsunami: Caught on Camera 2004 Boxing Day tsunami playlist Articles and books: One train, more than 1,700 dead 10 years after tsunami, Utah man recovers, composes music linked to experiences The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: The Story of the Deadliest Natural Disaster of the 21st Century, by Charles River Editors Wave of Destruction: The Stories of Four Families and History's Deadliest Tsunami, by Erich Krauss Scientists: Sumatra quake longest ever recorded Power of tsunami earthquake heavily underestimated Girl, 10, used geography lesson to save lives The Devastating 2004 Ts

First came the earthquake, then came the wave. Videos: Compilation in chronological order of videos of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami The man who Filmed the Tsunami - Shocking footage of the Indonesian disaster Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions: Sri Lanka Train Disaster 18 Years Later The Wave That Shook the World Tsunami: Caught on Camera Articles and books: One train, more than 1,700 dead 10 years after tsunami, Utah man recovers, composes music linked to experiences The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: The Story of the Deadliest Natural Disaster of the 21st Century, by Charles River Editors Wave of Destruction: The Stories of Four Families and History's Deadliest Tsunami, by Erich Krauss Scientists: Sumatra quake longest ever recorded Power of tsunami earthquake heavily underestimated Girl, 10, used geography lesson to save lives The Devastating 2004 Tsunami: Timeline 10 Years Since Dec 26, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: 17 years on

On December 26th, 2004, the world experienced one of the deadliest natural disasters we will ever see in our lifetimes. In part one, we will look at the earthquake which was just the start of a horrific tragedy. Videos: Compilation in chronological order of videos of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami The man who Filmed the Tsunami - Shocking footage of the Indonesian disaster Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions: Sri Lanka Train Disaster 18 Years Later The Wave That Shook the World Tsunami: Caught on Camera Articles and books: One train, more than 1,700 dead 10 years after tsunami, Utah man recovers, composes music linked to experiences The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: The Story of the Deadliest Natural Disaster of the 21st Century, by Charles River Editors Wave of Destruction: The Stories of Four Families and History's Deadliest Tsunami, by Erich Krauss Scientists: Sumatra quake longest ever recorded Power of tsunami earthquake heavily underestimated Girl, 10, used

On a hot summer day in 1918, the night shift workers at the National Shell Filling Factory No. 6 in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England, arrived as per usual. One hundred and thirty-four of them would be dead within an hour and a half. Videos: Nottingham Forgotten Heroes #9 The Chilwell Munitions Workers The History Chap: The Chilwell Munitions Factory Explosion Articles and books: A History of the First World War in 100 Moments: When corpses fell from the Nottinghamshire sky Historic England Research Records: National Filling Factory Number 6 Chilwell Remembering the Chilwell Depot Explosion of 1918 and the Canary Girls, by Marian Dean Chilwell explosion: Events mark centenary of factory blast University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections: Chilwell Shell Filling Factory Explosion Footage of Chilwell shell factory found in shed seen for the first time in 100 years Revenge of the Curds: Remembering the Great Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766 The History Press: Disaster at the Ch

Rush hour is bad enough. The bridge you're on collapsing as you cross it during rush hour is even worse. Videos: I Survived ...: Virginia Tech and the I35W collapse 20/20 In An Instant: Rush Hour Disaster I-35W Bridge Collapse Structure and Components and Initial Failure 10 years later: Survivors reflect on the 35W bridge collapse Articles and books: NTSB: Design errors factor in 2007 bridge collapse Questions Rise About Previous Knowledge Of Bridge Hopes Dim in Minneapolis for Survivors Park board approves site for I-35W bridge memorial Hundreds turn out to dedication of 35W bridge memorial NTSB report on the I35W bridge collapse

On the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2022, a person armed with a rifle walked into Club Q, an LGBTQIA+ club in Colorado Springs, CO. What followed was a bloodbath.   Videos: Video of Club Q shooting suspect previous threat WATCH: Club Q shooting survivor on how LGBTQ people are ‘continually being dehumanized’ Watch: Suspect accused of killing five people in the Club Q mass shooting appears in court Club Q Mass Shooting Survivor: It Was Home And To Not Have That Anymore Hurts Articles and books:   Timeline: Club Q emergency response What We Know About the Colorado Springs Shooting Gay club shooting suspect evaded Colorado’s red flag gun law Colorado Springs Survivor Recounts Terror of LGBTQ Club Shooting: 'All I Could Think of Was Pulse' Army Veteran Went Into ‘Combat Mode’ to Disarm the Club Q Gunman Colorado police prioritize proper pronouns, names of shooting victims Focus on the Family’s Colorado Springs headquarters sign vandalized days after Club Q mass shooting

While we are still close to the actual disaster for a regular episode on the subject, Jennifer takes an hour and a half to discuss the implosion of the OceanGate submersible on its dive down to the wreck of the Titanic.

In a small Pennsylvania town, the play set to be performed on a cold Monday night in January drew hundreds of people to the Rhoads Opera House. One hundred and seventy of them would never make it home alive. Videos: The Rhoads Opera House Fire: Legacy Of A Tragedy Articles and books: Midwinter Mourning and A Town in Tragedy, by Mary Jane Schneider Trapped in the Third Act: The Rhoads Opera House Fire, Boyertown 1908

When the sky darkened and the winds picked up at the Indiana State Fair on August 13th, 2011, those fans waiting for country band Sugarland to perform were worried the concert might be delayed. But there was something far more deadly for those in the audience to worry about. Videos: State Fair Tragedy: 10 Years Later Indianapolis stage collapse compiled raw footage w/ State Fire radio audio Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse - Weather Moments Before Sugarland Opens Up About Tragedy A STAGE FELL ON ME | Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse How the 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse lead to major changes in safety at large events Articles and books: 'Forever and yesterday': Remembering the Indiana State Fair stage collapse 10 years later LOOKING BACK ON SUGARLAND’S TRAGIC STAGE COLLAPSE 10 YEARS LATER Video: Flaming Lips’ Stage Collapses in Oklahoma $50 million settlement reached in Indiana State Fair stage collapse About us: Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center $39M settlement reache

Jennifer recounts her visit to the 9/11 Museum in New York City.

  Every day we head off to work or school or wherever else we might be headed with the hope we will arrive there safely. But while we might feel like we can depend on ourselves to keep safe, sometimes our lives are in the hands of pilots, drivers, or engineers who are under extraordinary pressures we have no clue about until it's too late. Videos: Seconds From Disaster: Runaway Train (S 6, Ep 5) Trapped Underground for Hours After Horrific Train Crash (S 1 Ep 3) Fukuchiyama Derailment Mystery (Toshiden podcast, Tara A. Devlin) Articles and books: Families, Survivors Mark 14th Anniversary of Fatal JR West Derailment  54 Killed in Japan Train Crash Japan Train Derailment Two Survivors Pulled From Train Crash in Japan; Death Toll at 76 Second Train Derailment in Japan At Least 73 Dead, 456 Hurt in Japan Train Derailment Toll Rises in Japan Train Wreck Japan Train Crash Toll Climbs Japan’s Train Derailment Reaches 95, May Rise Further Rail Company in Japan Investigated Japan Crash Inquiry Focuses on Driver De

It was just a little house fire. It should have gone out in no time. In a safer building, it would have. But within an hour and a half of the first call to 999 that night, Grenfell Tower was fully ablaze. Videos: Grenfell: The Fire of London Grenfell: The Worst Tower Block Fire in London History Grenfell Tower tragedy in 3D 12 Firefighters have Terminal Cancer Since 2017 Rescue First Reports of Grenfell Tower fire New video timeline shows how the Grenfell Tower fire unfolded What Happened With The Cladding At Grenfell Tower? Articles and books: Show Me The Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen, by Peter Apps Grenfell Tower inferno a 'disaster waiting to happen' as concerns are raised for safety of other buildings Concerns raised about Grenfell Tower 'for years' Fire alarm at Grenfell Tower was never meant for residents Grenfell: Cladding firm suggested use of cheaper panels Grenfell Tower refurbishment used cheaper cladding and tenants accused builders of shoddy workmanship Residents warned of 'catastrophic'

It was just a little house fire. It should have gone out in no time. In a safer building, it would have. But within an hour and a half of the first call to 999 that night, Grenfell Tower was fully ablaze. Videos: Grenfell: The Fire of London Grenfell: The Worst Tower Block Fire in London History Grenfell Tower tragedy in 3D 12 Firefighters have Terminal Cancer Since 2017 Rescue First Reports of Grenfell Tower fire New video timeline shows how the Grenfell Tower fire unfolded What Happened With The Cladding At Grenfell Tower? Articles and books: Show Me The Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen, by Peter Apps Grenfell Tower inferno a 'disaster waiting to happen' as concerns are raised for safety of other buildings Concerns raised about Grenfell Tower 'for years' Fire alarm at Grenfell Tower was never meant for residents Grenfell: Cladding firm suggested use of cheaper panels Grenfell Tower refurbishment used cheaper cladding and tenants accused builders of shoddy workmanship Residents warned of 'catastrophic'

It was just a little house fire. It should have gone out in no time. In a safer building, it would have. But within an hour and a half of the first call to 999 that night, Grenfell Tower was fully ablaze. Videos: Grenfell: The Fire of London Grenfell: The Worst Tower Block Fire in London History Grenfell Tower tragedy in 3D 12 Firefighters have Terminal Cancer Since 2017 Rescue First Reports of Grenfell Tower fire New video timeline shows how the Grenfell Tower fire unfolded What Happened With The Cladding At Grenfell Tower? Articles and books: Show Me The Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen, by Peter Apps Grenfell Tower inferno a 'disaster waiting to happen' as concerns are raised for safety of other buildings Concerns raised about Grenfell Tower 'for years' Fire alarm at Grenfell Tower was never meant for residents Grenfell: Cladding firm suggested use of cheaper panels Grenfell Tower refurbishment used cheaper cladding and tenants accused builders of shoddy workmanship Residents warned of 'catastrophic'

Have you ever been stranded in your car in the middle of a snowstorm? Now imagine there are 350 other people in the car with you, and you're all stuck in that storm in the middle of an Alaskan canal for nearly two days. People come to rescue you but can't get any closer. And with every passing hour, your car groans and threatens to sink. That was what happened to the SS Princess Sophia in 1918. Videos: Disasters of the Century: The Princess Sophia Sinking The Sea Hunters: The Princess Sophia tragedy Articles and books: Stranded: Alaska’s Worst Maritime Disaster Nearly Happened Twice, by Aaron Saunders Report on the wreck of the Princess Sophia Forgotten Voyage Remembering the Princess Sophia: The Titanic of the Pacific West Coast National Park Service: The Princess Sophia The Wreck of HMCS Galiano October 1918

Ah, flying in the 1950s. Fancy clothes, good food, smoking in the airplane, and the chance to see sights you’d never get to see otherwise. Two planes flying over the Grand Canyon on a summer day in 1956 should have passed by perfectly fine, and probably would have on any other day. But tragedy would strike over one of the most beautiful places on Earth, changing the aviation industry in one horrifying moment. Videos: Fatal Collision Over the Grand Canyon | America's Worst Disaster | United 718 and TWA 2 Air Collision Over The Grand Canyon | Mayday | On The Move Historic Archaeology: The 1956 Grand Canyon Aviation Accident by Ben Carver (playlist) Articles and books: Historic Plane Wreck Site Protected The Site of a 1950s Plane Crash Just Became a National Landmark But the Park Service won't tell you how to get there. CAB accident report

On April 6th, 2018, the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team from Saskatchewan, Canada, were on their way to a playoff game in Nipawin. They weren't expecting the semi-tractor trailer headed westbound on Highway 335 - right into their path. Videos: Humboldt: The New Season How the Humboldt bus crash happened Special coverage of the tragedy in Humboldt, Saskatchewan W5: Jaskirat Sidhu, the 'Humboldt Driver,' speaks about the tragedy Articles and books: Agreed Statement of Facts - Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash Humboldt bus crash cause unknown as new details on truck and bus driving companies emerge Kingston man speaks to Humboldt crash intersection, where he lost his family 20 years ago Humboldt Broncos crash: What the RCMP forensics team found Humboldt presented E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence Coroner apologizes after mistaking Humboldt Broncos victim; Xavier LaBelle is alive Sports Illustrated: The Valley of Darkness 'One of the darkest days in the history of Saskatchewan' as 15 die in b

The start of the summer season in Paris in the 1890s could arguably be the Bazar de la Charité, sort of a rummage sale for the wealthy to benefit the poor. The height of Parisian’s female society passed through its doors each year, and May 4th, 1897, was no different. But the presence of the bazaar’s biggest novelty - a cinematograph showing films by the Lumière brothers - also led to a gruesome tragedy. Videos: Visit to the site of the charity fire on Rue Jean Goujon Documentaire sur l'histoire de l'incendie du bazar de la charité Article and books: A D V E N T U R E S in C Y B E R S O U N D: Charles Pathe The Tragic 1897 Charity Bazaar Fire of Paris Remembering a Belle Époque inferno in Paris COWARDICE OF PARIS MEN Exhibited in Brutal Form During the Burning of the Charity Bazaar The Bazar de la Charité Disaster: part one, part two, part three, and part four. The Bazar de la Charite website A History of Women Who Burned to Death in Flammable Dresses Heroes and Legends of Fin-de-Siécle

On April 15th, 2013, runners in Boston were approaching the finish line of the city's esteemed marathon at ten minutes to three in the afternoon when a large explosion tore through the crowd. Thirteen seconds later, a second one went off down the street. The manhunt for the men who committed the attack would last several days and take over the entire metropolitan area. Videos: The Days That Shaped America: Boston Bombing Nova - Manhunt Boston Bombers Boston Marathon Documentary - Amazing History & Injustices Discovery+: What Really Happened, the Boston Marathon bombing, parts one and two Articles and books: Criminal complaint against the surviving Boston bomber MIT News: "He loved us, and we loved him." Boston Bomb Victim in Photo Helped Identify Suspects Cambridge Man Indicted for Making False Statements in the Boston Marathon Bombing Terrorism Investigation Here's what various parts of the Boston Marathon bombing memorial represent Boston Strong: A City’s Triumph Over Tragedy, by