Great Disasters
Whether natural or man-made, disasters attract a strange mixture of horror and fascination. However, the spectacle of devastation is only ever one part of the story. Take a closer look, and you will find tales of extraordinary human endurance and heroism, stories that veer from the horrific to the oddly humorous, and lessons that can be learned to make our world safer.
From the Titanic to the Costa Concordia, the Station nightclub fire to the Pulse nightclub shooting, these extraordinary events – and the people involved – are examined on the Great Disasters podcast, written, researched, recorded and produced by me, Kari Fay.
From official reports, first-person accounts, and contemporary media, I delve into the often-appalling details of these events to bring you the full story.
From the Titanic to the Costa Concordia, the Station nightclub fire to the Pulse nightclub shooting, these extraordinary events – and the people involved – are examined on the Great Disasters podcast, written, researched, recorded and produced by me, Kari Fay.
From official reports, first-person accounts, and contemporary media, I delve into the often-appalling details of these events to bring you the full story.
Episodes
64 episodes
Empire State Building Plane Crash
On a foggy day in 1945, the busy streets of New York City were interrupted by a sound that shouldn't have been there - a plane, flying between the skyscrapers, and set on a collision course with the tallest building in the world.Visit w...
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Episode 62
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31:11
2023 In Review
Every year brings its share of tragic events. A few are somewhat predictable - we will always expect a number of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones, for example - while others are more unusual. Some grab headlines and make history, and others ar...
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Episode 61
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46:40
2022 In Review
How much tragedy can a single year bring? From the Hunga Tonga volcano to the Buffalo snow storm, let's take a look at the disasters which shaped the year 2022.Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.Chec...
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Episode 60
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42:13
2010 Copiapo Mining Incident
The story of 33 men trapped deep within a Chilean mine gripped not only their nation, but the whole world. This episode of Great Disasters draws on contemporary reporting and the survivors' accounts to tell a fascinating story of hope and...
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Episode 59
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1:39:40
2013 Lampedusa Migrant Shipwreck
In this episode of Great Disasters, I'll be looking at the shipwreck of a migrant boat off the coast of Lampedusa in 2013.The beautiful Italian island of Lampedusa is accustomed to the arrival of migrant boats, and the frequent need to ...
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Episode 58
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38:38
2021 In Review
A look back over the disasters and tragedies which shaped 2021, from COVID-19 to the Surfside Condo Collapse, the La Palma Volcano, and more.(Apologies if my narration isn't as precise as usual - I am in the middle of some significant d...
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Episode 57
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34:20
9/11 - United 93
It was one of the most shocking events of modern times; an attack on an a scale previously unimaginable, and a day that should never be forgotten.Using contemporary accounts, the stories of witnesses and survivors, and the words of the ...
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Episode 56
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55:18
9/11 - American 77 and The Pentagon
It was one of the most shocking events of modern times; an attack on an a scale previously unimaginable, and a day that should never be forgotten.Using contemporary accounts, the stories of witnesses and survivors, and the words of the ...
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Episode 55
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56:13
9/11 - Trauma in New York
It was one of the most shocking events of modern times; an attack on an a scale previously unimaginable, and a day that should never be forgotten.Using contemporary accounts, the stories of witnesses and survivors, and the words of the ...
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Episode 54
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58:43
9/11 - United 175 and the South Tower
It was one of the most shocking events of modern times; an attack on an a scale previously unimaginable, and a day that should never be forgotten.Using contemporary accounts, the stories of witnesses and survivors, and the words of the ...
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Episode 53
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54:15
9/11 - American 11 and the North Tower
It was one of the most shocking events of modern times; an attack on an a scale previously unimaginable, and a day that should never be forgotten.Using contemporary accounts, the stories of witnesses and survivors, and the words of the ...
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Episode 52
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58:08
9/11 - Overview
It was one of the most shocking events of modern times; an attack on an a scale previously unimaginable, and a day that should never be forgotten.Using contemporary accounts, the stories of witnesses and survivors, and the words of the ...
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Episode 51
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1:07:16
HMS Thetis
The submarine sank in relatively sheltered waters, just fourteen miles from shore. Although her front end was on the sea bed, her rear end was lifted several feet out of the water. Surely rescue for the 103 men on board would be quite simple?
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Episode 50
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1:25:24
LAM Mozambique Flight 470
A commercial airliner drops from the sky over Africa without a single word; what happened, and how could it have prevented further tragedy?Drawing from official reports and contemporary reporting, I'll tell the story of LAM Mozambique F...
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Episode 49
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33:53
The Schoolhouse Blizzard
It started as a lovely, mild winter's day - but it turned deadly, and those most at risk were the children.Drawing from contemporary newspaper accounts, modern research and more, I'll tell the story of the Schoolhouse Blizzard.<...
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Episode 48
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42:35
Peshtigo Fire
It burned around 1.5 million acres, killed over a thousand people, and ranks as the deadliest wildfire in history. Yet it is largely forgotten, because it happened the same night as the Great Fire of Chicago.Drawing from the tales of su...
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Episode 47
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38:02
R101
It was the age of airships - gigantic silver balloons which floated almost silently across the sky - but Britain's dreams of an Imperial airship fleet were about to be tragically dashed.Drawing from contemporary reporting, eyewitness ac...
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Episode 46
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1:03:00
Hyatt Regency Skywalk Collapse
It should have been a fun evening of music and dancing - but it abruptly turned into a gruesome scene of tragedy.Drawing from contemporary reporting, eyewitness accounts, and official reports, I'll tell the story of the Hyatt Regency Sk...
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Episode 45
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45:25
The Tulsa Race Massacre
An incident in an elevator led to an outpouring of hatred, gunfire and flame. It was America's worst single incident of racial violence, yet for decades many had never even heard of it.Drawing from contemporary reporting, eyewitness acc...
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Episode 44
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1:07:05
Herald of Free Enterprise
A crowded ferry set sail from Zeebrugge on a cold March evening - but just outside the harbour walls, tragedy struck, and a straightforward crossing turned into a fight to survive.Drawing from contemporary coverage, official reports and...
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Episode 43
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49:12
Carrollton Bus Crash
After a church outing to an amusement park, an old yellow school bus full of sleepy kids made its way home along the interstate. At the same time, a pickup truck was driving the other way - in the same lane. Drawing from contemporary co...
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Episode 42
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51:44
The Boston Molasses Flood
A wave of black, sticky molasses engulfs a Boston neighbourhood, wreaking a sweet-tasting but deadly kind of havoc. It's one of history's more unusual disasters, but that doesn't mean it should be treated lightly. Drawing from both mode...
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Episode 41
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53:06
Harrow & Wealdstone Rail Crash
It should have been an ordinary Wednesday morning commute, with the biggest worry being whether there would be any seats free on the train. Instead, it was described as being akin to the battlefields of the war just seven years past. Dr...
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Episode 40
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41:07
