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PODCAST

Compact Disasters

Compact Disasters

Compact Disasters is a podcast that delivers bite-sized episodes exploring some of the world"s most catastrophic events, from natural disasters to human-made tragedies. Each episode, lasting less time than it takes to enjoy a coffee, dives into the causes, consequences, and lasting impacts of these events, offering listeners a concise but comprehensive overview. Whether it"s hurricanes, industrial accidents, or historical calamities, the podcast aims to engage and inform audiences with

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

11:47

The Tangiwai Rail Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/12/06

Listen now to our Compact Disasters episode about the Tangiwai rail disaster, where nature struck without warning and a Christmas homecoming turned into a national tragedy. #tangiwai #newzealandhistory #ruapehu #raildisaster #compactdisasters #volcanichazards #lahar #nz #historypodcast #truehistory #geographyfacts

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14:20

The Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004

Compact Disasters ·

2025/11/29

On 26 December 2004, a powerful undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra triggered a devastating tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean. In this episode, we revisit one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history — the Boxing Day Tsunami — to understand how a single seismic event killed over 230,000 people, displaced millions, and reshaped global disaster awareness forever. #tsunami #boxingdaytsunami #2004disasters #indianocean #naturaldisaster #earthquake #disasterhistory

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10:38

The Sinking of the General Slocum

Compact Disasters ·

2025/11/22

On a sunny morning in June 1904, a leisurely church outing turned to unspeakable tragedy when the General Slocum steamboat caught fire in New York's East River. In just minutes, over a thousand lives—mostly women and children—were lost in one of America's deadliest maritime disasters. In this episode, we dive into what went wrong, how the city responded, and the haunting legacy left behind. #generalslocum #steamboatdisaster #historicaltragedy #maritimedisaster #nychistory #1900samerica #eastiverfire

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10:57

The Great Lisbon Earthquake

Compact Disasters ·

2025/11/15

In 1755, on a calm All Saints' Day morning, Lisbon was torn apart by one of the most powerful earthquakes in European history. What followed was a deadly cascade of destruction — collapsing buildings, a towering tsunami, and fires that burned the city for days. In this episode, we unpack how a single morning reshaped Lisbon, challenged Enlightenment thinking, and changed the way the world understands natural disaster risk. #lisbonearthquake #1755disaster #tectonictragedy #historicaldisasters

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10:51

The 1947 Texas City Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/11/08

In April 1947, Texas City became the site of the deadliest industrial accident in American history. A ship loaded with ammonium nitrate exploded in the port, triggering a chain of blasts that devastated the city, killed hundreds, and left thousands injured. In this episode, we explore the build-up, the blast, and the staggering aftermath of a disaster so massive it registered on seismographs and changed safety regulations forever. #texascitydisaster #1947explosion #industrialdisaster

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11:10

The 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Compact Disasters ·

2025/11/01

Just over a decade after the devastating 2010 quake, Haiti was struck again in 2020—reminding the world of its lingering vulnerability. In this episode, we revisit a country already struggling to recover and examine how a second major earthquake deepened the humanitarian crisis. With fragile infrastructure, limited emergency response, and rising political instability, the tremor wasn't just geological—it was social, economic, and profoundly human. #haitiearthquake #naturaldisasters #2020quake

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11:46

The Leaded Petrol Health Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/10/25

For decades, we pumped a neurotoxin into the air and called it progress. The global rollout of leaded petrol poisoned entire populations, especially children, under the guise of engine efficiency. In this episode, we track the history, the cover-ups, and the shocking health legacy of one of the 20th century’s most devastating environmental mistakes. #leadedpetrol #publichealthdisaster #environmentalhistory #leaddisaster #toxictruth #cleanair #climateandhealth #neurotoxins #5minutedisasters

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10:20

The Castle Bravo Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/10/18

In 1954, the United States detonated its most powerful hydrogen bomb — and got it disastrously wrong. The Castle Bravo test at Bikini Atoll unleashed far more destruction than expected, contaminating islanders, American servicemen, and even a Japanese fishing crew. In this explosive episode, we examine the scientific miscalculations, the human toll, and how one test changed the global conversation around nuclear weapons forever. #castlebravo #nucleartesting #bikiniatoll #hydrogenbomb #coldwarhistory

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12:12

The Andrea Doria Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/10/11

On a foggy July night in 1956, two ships crossed paths off the coast of Nantucket, and only one would sail away. When the luxurious Italian liner Andrea Doria collided with the Stockholm, it triggered one of the most dramatic maritime disasters of the 20th century. In this episode, we dive into the fatal misjudgements, the botched radar readings, and the incredible rescue that saved over 1,600 lives. #andreadoria #maritimedisaster #shipwreck #1950sdisasters #nauticaltragedy #italianliner

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12:16

The Granville Rail Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/10/04

In January 1977, a regular commuter train near Sydney became the scene of Australia's deadliest rail disaster. When the Bold Street Bridge collapsed onto two carriages during rush hour, 84 lives were lost in an instant, and over 200 more were injured. In this episode, we revisit the Granville Rail Disaster, a tragic event that exposed cracks in Australia's rail infrastructure and changed safety policy forever. #granvilledisaster #railaccident #australianhistory #1970sdisasters #trainwreck

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12:45

America's Deadliest Tornado Outbreak

Compact Disasters ·

2025/09/27

In April 2011, the skies over the southern and eastern United States turned lethal. Over just four days, hundreds of tornadoes carved a path of destruction across 21 states, leaving entire towns in ruins. In this episode, we revisit the 2011 Super Outbreak — the deadliest and most violent tornado outbreak in modern American history. Hear the stories of survival, the science behind the chaos, and how the event reshaped how we prepare for storms. #tornado #2011outbreak #superoutbreak #tornadodisaster

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10:16

The Notre-Dame Fire

Compact Disasters ·

2025/09/20

In this episode, we revisit the night flames engulfed one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. From the first wisp of smoke to the collapse of the spire, and through to its remarkable restoration, this is the story of loss, resilience, and rebirth. Join us as we uncover how centuries of history almost vanished in a single night, and how, five years later, the bells ring once more. #notredame #parisfire #cathedralfire #historicaldisasters #architecturehistory

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12:52

The 1955 Le Mans Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/09/13

In June 1955, the world of motorsport was forever changed when a collision at the 24 Hours of Le Mans sent a Mercedes racing car into the crowd, killing driver Pierre Levegh and more than 80 spectators. It remains the deadliest disaster in racing history, a tragedy that forced sweeping changes to track design, car safety, and the way fans watch motorsport. In this episode, we explore how it happened, who was blamed, and the legacy it left behind. #lemans1955, #motorsporthistory, #racingdisasters,

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09:24

The Boeing 737 MAX Crashes

Compact Disasters ·

2025/09/06

When modern aviation meets corporate shortcuts, disaster can strike. In this episode of Compact Disasters, we unpack the story behind the Boeing 737 Max, a jet built in haste that led to two tragic crashes, a global grounding, and one of the most significant reckonings in aviation history. Listen now to understand how engineering, economics and ethics collided in midair. #boeing737max, #airdisasters, #aviationhistory, #flightsafety, #corporatenegligence, #truestories, #planecrashes, #podcast,

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10:31

The Thera Eruption

Compact Disasters ·

2025/08/30

Around 1600 BCE, the volcanic island of Thera erupted with a force that reshaped the Aegean, sending tsunamis across the Mediterranean and burying the Minoan settlement of Akrotiri under metres of ash. In this episode, we explore how one of history’s largest eruptions destroyed an island, disrupted ancient civilisations, and may have inspired legends like Atlantis. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support

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09:56

The Fidenae Amphitheatre Collapse

Compact Disasters ·

2025/08/23

In 27 AD, Rome witnessed one of the deadliest stadium disasters in history when a hastily built wooden amphitheatre in Fidenae collapsed during a gladiatorial spectacle. Packed with thousands of spectators eager for the games, the structure gave way without warning, sending the crowd crashing into the wreckage below. In this episode, we uncover how greed, poor construction, and a lack of oversight turned entertainment into tragedy, and how the disaster forced the Roman Empire to rethink public

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10:14

The 1966 Aberfan Disaster

Compact Disasters ·

2025/08/16

On 21 October 1966, a wall of coal waste roared down a hillside into the Welsh village of Aberfan, engulfing homes and Pantglas Junior School in seconds. One hundred and forty-four people were killed, including 116 children, in a tragedy that shocked the world and exposed a chain of negligence. In this episode, we revisit the heartbreaking events of that morning, the fight for justice, and the legacy that ensures Aberfan is never forgotten. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and

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10:04

The 2020 Beirut Explosion

Compact Disasters ·

2025/08/09

In August 2020, a massive explosion tore through Beirut, killing over 200 people and leaving the city in ruins. At the heart of the tragedy? A forgotten cache of ammonium nitrate, years of negligence, and a system in freefall. This episode unpacks the blast, the blame, and the long road to justice for a wounded capital. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, by say, buying us a coffee,

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09:34

Tulip Mania

Compact Disasters ·

2025/08/02

In the 1600s, the Dutch Republic witnessed one of history’s most infamous financial frenzies, the Tulip Mania. Prices for rare bulbs skyrocketed and then crashed almost overnight. But was it really the world’s first bubble, or just a case of economic myth-making? In this episode, we dig into the petals, the profits, and the popular misconceptions. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly,

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09:44

The Sinking of the Prestige

Compact Disasters ·

2025/07/26

In 2002, the oil tanker Prestige broke apart off the coast of Spain, spilling thousands of tonnes of toxic fuel into the Atlantic and unleashing one of Europe’s worst environmental disasters. In this episode, we trace the ship’s final hours, the fateful decisions that led to catastrophe, and the massive ecological and political fallout that followed. It’s a story of rust, risk, and responsibility, with a slick of denial spread across the surface. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing

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60 results

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