Great Disasters

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 are quickly forgotten. These are the events which shaped 2023.

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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 survival against the odds.

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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 rescue their occupants, since it's the closest European land to the coast of Libya. However, this incident was on an unprecedented scale.

Drawing on contemporary reportin...

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 dental work.)

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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 victims, I'll tell the story of 9/11.

This is a series in six parts. This episode looks at aspects of events in New York, not covered in the previous episodes.


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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 victims, I'll tell the story of 9/11.

This is a series in six parts. This episode looks specifically at the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 175, and events at the South To...

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 victims, I'll tell the story of 9/11.

This is a series in six parts. This episode gives an overview of the events of 9/11. 


Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for th...

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 victims, I'll tell the story of 9/11.

This is a series in six parts. This episode looks at the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93, and the brave actions of the passengers ...

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 victims, I'll tell the story of 9/11.

This is a series in six parts. This episode looks specifically at the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11, and events at the North T...

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 victims, I'll tell the story of 9/11.

This is a series in six parts. This episode looks at the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 77 and events at The Pentagon in Washingto...

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?

 Drawing from contemporary accounts and modern research, I'll tell the harrowing story of the HMS Thetis.

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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 Flight 470

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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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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 survivors, contemporary newspaper accounts and more, I'll tell the story of the Peshtigo Fire.

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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 accounts, official reports and more, I'll tell the story of the R101.

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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 Skywalk Collapse.

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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 accounts, and modern research, I'll tell the story of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

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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 eyewitness accounts, I'll tell the story of the Herald of Free Enterprise.

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