Podcast
Compact Disasters
Hosted by Compact Disasters · EN
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 well-researched, fast-paced content that is both educational and gripping. Perfect for history enthusiasts, curious minds, or anyone looking to learn about significant disasters without a huge time commitment.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Kaprun Funicular Fire
1w ago00:20:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Compact Disasters, we examine the Kaprun Funicular Fire, one of the deadliest Alpine transport disasters in modern history. On 11 November 2000, a ski train carrying passengers towards the Kitzsteinhorn glacier caught fire inside a steep tunnel near Kaprun, Austria. What began as an ordinary journey to the slopes became a catastrophic failure of design, escape planning, and emergency preparedness. We look at how the fire started, why the tunnel became so deadly, how only a handful escaped, and why the legal aftermath left many families still searching for accountability. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #KaprunFunicularFire, #KaprunDisaster, #CompactDisasters, #AustrianHistory, #TransportDisaster, #TunnelFire, #DisasterHistory, #RailwaySafety, #FireSafety, #EngineeringFailure
Transcribe →
The Piper Alpha Disaster
2w ago00:26:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Compact Disasters, we examine The Piper Alpha Disaster, the catastrophic 1988 explosion and fire on a North Sea oil platform that claimed 167 lives and became the deadliest offshore oil disaster in history. From maintenance errors and permit failures to fire, evacuation chaos, and the Cullen Inquiry that reshaped offshore safety, this episode explores how one platform's destruction changed an entire industry. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #PiperAlpha, #PiperAlphaDisaster, #CompactDisasters, #IndustrialDisaster, #NorthSeaOil, #OffshoreSafety, #DisasterHistory, #EngineeringDisaster, #OilPlatform, #SafetyCulture
Transcribe →
The Japan Air Lines Flight 123 Disaster
3w ago00:21:32Tap to summarizeOn 12 August 1985, Japan Airlines Flight 123 took off from Tokyo bound for Osaka, a short domestic journey during one of Japan's busiest holiday periods. Twelve minutes later, a catastrophic structural failure tore through the rear of the aircraft, destroying vital control systems and leaving the crew fighting to keep a crippled Boeing 747 in the sky. In this episode of Compact Disasters, we follow the story of Flight 123 from its routine departure to the hidden repair fault that caused the disaster, the crew's extraordinary struggle to control the aircraft, the crash in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, and the investigation that changed aviation safety forever. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #JapanAirlinesFlight123, #JAL123, #AviationDisaster, #AirCrashInvestigation, #DisasterHistory, #AviationSafety, #Boeing747, #CompactDisasters, #JapaneseHistory, #TransportDisaster
Transcribe →
The Port Chicago Explosion
4w ago00:23:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Compact Disasters, we explore the Port Chicago Explosion, the devastating 1944 blast that killed 320 men at a naval ammunition base in California. From the dangerous working conditions on the docks to the tragedy itself, and from the controversial mutiny trial that followed to the disaster's lasting civil rights significance, this is the story of a wartime catastrophe that revealed far more than a single terrible accident. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #CompactDisasters #PortChicago #PortChicagoExplosion #WorldWarII #NavalHistory #MilitaryHistory #CivilRightsHistory #AmericanHistory #DisasterHistory #HistoricalPodcast
Transcribe →
The Bradford City Stadium Fire
Apr 1100:20:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Compact Disasters, we look at the Bradford City Stadium Fire, the tragedy that unfolded at Valley Parade on 11 May 1985 during what should have been a day of celebration. We follow the events of the fire itself, the terrible human cost, and the inquiry that revealed how ageing wooden stands, accumulated litter, and poor safety measures turned a football match into one of the darkest days in British sporting history. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #BradfordCityFire, #ValleyParade, #FootballHistory, #CompactDisasters, #BritishHistory, #StadiumDisaster, #DisasterHistory, #SportsHistory
Transcribe →
The 2015 Nepal Earthquake
Apr 400:20:11Tap to summarizeOn 25 April 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal and changed the country in seconds. In this episode, we explore how the quake hit, why Nepal was so vulnerable, what happened in Kathmandu and on Mount Everest, and how rescue teams and survivors faced the days that followed. This is a story of geological force, human loss, cultural destruction, and the long effort to rebuild after one of the deadliest disasters in Nepal's modern history. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #NepalEarthquake, #2015NepalEarthquake, #Nepal, #Earthquake, #NaturalDisaster, #DisasterHistory, #Kathmandu, #MountEverest, #CompactDisasters, #HistoryPodcast
Transcribe →
The Morro Castle Fire
Mar 2800:24:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Compact Disasters, we explore the terrifying story of the Morro Castle fire, the 1934 ocean liner disaster that turned a luxury voyage into a floating inferno off the coast of New Jersey. From the sudden death of the captain to the rapid spread of the flames, the failed evacuation, and the haunting image of the burned ship drifting ashore, this is a story of panic, bravery, and unanswered questions. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #MorroCastle #MorroCastleFire #MaritimeDisaster #OceanLiner #ShipFire #1930sHistory #DisasterHistory #CompactDisasters
Transcribe →
The Vargas Tragedy
Mar 2100:23:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Compact Disasters, we explore the Vargas Tragedy, the catastrophic floods, landslides, and debris flows that struck Venezuela in December 1999. What began as relentless rain became one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern Latin American history, destroying towns, cutting off communities, and leaving thousands dead or missing. This is the story of how geography, weather, and human vulnerability combined with horrifying force. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #CompactDisasters, #VargasTragedy, #Venezuela, #NaturalDisaster, #Landslide, #Flood, #DisasterHistory, #ExtremeWeather, #Mudslide, #HistoryPodcast
Transcribe →
Podcasthon - When Seconds Matter: The Life-Saving Work of the UK Air Ambulance
Mar 1700:24:14Tap to summarizeWe are very happy to participate in this 4th edition of Podcasthon. For one week, thousands of podcasts will highlight a charity of their choice and today we have the pleasure of welcoming the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. If you wish to find out more about their work please follow the link below. Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance - ambucopter.org.uk When a serious accident happens, every second counts. Across the United Kingdom, air ambulance crews race against time to deliver life-saving treatment directly at the scene of emergencies. From motorway crashes and farming accidents to cardiac arrests in remote countryside, these helicopter medical teams bring hospital-level care to patients when minutes can mean the difference between life and death. In this episode, we explore how the UK's air ambulance services began, how missions unfold, and how communities help keep these life-saving helicopters in the sky. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #AirAmbulance, #EmergencyMedicine, #CompactDisasters, #HelicopterRescue, #MedicalRescue
Transcribe →
The Lake Nyos Disaster
Mar 1400:24:05Tap to summarizeIn August 1986, a quiet volcanic lake in Cameroon suddenly released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide that silently swept through nearby villages. More than 1,700 people and thousands of animals died overnight in one of the strangest natural disasters ever recorded. In this episode, we explore how a peaceful lake became a deadly natural trap, how scientists uncovered the cause, and how engineers worked to prevent it from ever happening again. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #NaturalDisasters, #LakeNyos, #CompactDisasters, #VolcanicDisasters, #ScienceMysteries
Transcribe →