Tsunamis, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes...these are real-life monsters. We like to think we’re prepared for a catastrophe. But time and time again, Mother Nature proves us wrong. Each week, Natural Disasters examines the earth’s biggest catastrophes that took countless lives, destroyed communities, and toppled civilizations. Natural Disasters is a Spotify Original from Parcast.
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Tsunamis, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes...these are real-life monsters. We like to think we’re prepared for a catastrophe. But time and time again, Mother Nature proves us wrong. Each week, Natural Disasters examines the earth’s biggest catastrophes that took countless lives, destroyed communities, and toppled civilizations. Natural Disasters is a Spotify Original from Parcast.
On February 15, 2013, a fireball streaked over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk and exploded. The residents below worried it was a missile—but really, it was a meteor that struck the earth with the force of multiple nuclear bombs.
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The blow-up of the 1949 Mann Gulch Wildfire had tragic consequences for a team of wildland firefighters. The event catalyzed a new era in fire safety, and wildland firefighting techniques that continue to this day.
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On August 5th, 1949, a lightning strike touched off a small wildfire in Montana's Helena National Forest. A team of smokejumpers were dispatched to fight the fire—but it burned out of control, trapping them in the gulch.
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During the 1969 Independence Day fireworks celebrations in Lakewood, Ohio, a massive windstorm called a derecho struck without warning. Some of the 20,000 spectators who fled for shelter would not survive.
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In 1986, a deep volcanic lake in Cameroon erupted half a million tons of carbon dioxide. The toxic gas washed over the surrounding countryside with deadly consequences, and the mystery of the lake took scientists years to unravel.
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The tsunami rose out of the ocean on the morning of December 26th, 2004, after a 9.2 magnitude earthquake. After wreaking havoc in Indonesia, the wave continued toward Thailand. Thousands of victims were in its path, and the destruction would change the beaches forever.
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On December 26th, 2004, the beaches of Indonesia and Thailand were brimming with tourists on their Christmas holidays. That morning, one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history struck just off the western shore of Sumatra, startling locals and tourists alike. But the quake also triggered a tsunami, and just minutes later, thousands would be dead.
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On October 3rd, 1893, the fishing community of Cheniere Caminada awoke to a nightmare. A category 4 hurricane had wiped out the region, leaving hundreds dead and a village decimated. Today, Cheniere Caminada remains a ghost town.
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On October 2nd, 1893, a category 4 hurricane made landfall on the southeast coast of Louisiana. It slammed into the fishing community of Cheniere Caminada, a thriving village that supplied oysters and other seafood to New Orleans. The seafaring population was caught off-guard and had to fight for their lives.
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Kenya’s Kisii County sees around 30 lightning strike fatalities per year. While this phenomena is largely due to high elevation and thunderstorms, other manmade factors contribute to the danger.
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On the morning of January 15th, 1919, two million gallons of molasses wreaked havoc on the North End. The cleanup process was arduous, with the flood having lasting effects on the city and people of Boston.
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On the morning of January 15th, 1919, a deluge of two million gallons of molasses swept over Boston's North End. Startled residents ran for shelter and desperately tried to save those caught in the wave of liquid sugar.
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As the blizzard raged on through the afternoon of January 12th, 1888, schoolhouses across South Dakota became emergency shelters. Some children tried to make it home through the driving snow, while teachers herded kids to safety. Not all would survive.
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At midday on January 12th, 1888, the northern plains of South Dakota were struck by a deadly blizzard. Many teachers and school children were caught outside in the blinding snow and found themselves fleeing for their lives.
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After a flood of toxic waste inundated the region around Akja, Hungary in October 2010, the residents of the area rushed to save those trapped and poisoned by the flood. Considered one of the worst ecological disasters of the modern era, the toxic spill forever changed the communities swallowed up by the deluge.
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We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Natural Disasters today and for the foreseeable future. We thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time.
On October 4th, 2010, a flood of toxic sludge burst out of a waste reservoir near Akja, Hungary. The surrounding region was quickly inundated by a wave of red mud, driving people and animals out of their homes in a desperate bid to escape the poisonous torrent.
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If you enjoy the true stories told in Natural Disasters, check out this episode from our series Medical Mysteries: It wasn’t until Doug Preston and his team returned from their expedition in Honduras in 2015 that tragedy struck. What they had contracted in the ruins was a horrifying, sometimes lethal and incurable disease of leishmaniasis, a tropical parasitic disease.
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If you enjoy the true stories told in Natural Disasters, check out this episode from our series Medical Mysteries: Explorers set out on an expedition into the wilderness of Honduras in 2015. They were seeking a lost city, but returned with far more than they bargained for.
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Seventy-five thousand years ago, the Toba Supervolcano decimated the Indonesian archipelago. It was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history and nearly drove humanity to extinction.
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Due to the unfortunate spread of COVID-19, Parcast has decided to halt recording for the time-being. This is a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of our hosts and staff. In the meantime, we're excited to share one of our classic episodes that we know you'll enjoy!
A massive explosion that occurred in the remote wilderness of Russia in 1908. Though more than a century has passed since it took place, the exact cause of the blast is still debated.
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Tsunamis, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes...these are real-life monsters. We like to think we’re prepared for a catastrophe. But time and time again, Mother Nature proves us wrong. Each week, Natural Disasters examines the earth’s biggest catastrophes that took countless lives, destroyed communities, and toppled civilizations. Natural Disasters is a Spotify Original from Parcast.
