In episode 16 of 5 Minute Biographies, we take a look at the Johnstown Flood of 1889, which was one of the deadliest disasters in American history, claiming over 2,200 lives. It occurred when the South Fork Dam in Pennsylvania collapsed after days of heavy rain, unleashing 20 million tons of water onto the town of Johnstown. The flood destroyed homes, swept away entire neighbourhoods, and caused fires, leaving the community in ruins. Despite relief efforts led by the Red Cross, the tragedy exposed negligence by the wealthy owners of the dam, sparking outrage and highlighting the stark inequalities of the Gilded Age.

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, then please head on over to 5minutedisasters.com/coffee to see how.

An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutedisasters.com/the-johnstown-flood/

Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Murder, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at:

• 5minutebiographies.com
• 5minutehistory.com
• 5minutemurder.com
• 5minutemysteries.com
• 5minutewarfare.com

In episode 15 of 5 Minute Disasters, we explore the devastating Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. In just five minutes, we recount the events of December 1984, when a leak of toxic methyl isocyanate gas from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, exposed hundreds of thousands of residents to lethal chemicals. The disaster claimed thousands of lives within hours, with its aftermath leaving lasting health and environmental damage for decades. Tune in to uncover how negligence and inadequate safety measures led to this catastrophic event and its enduring impact on the people of Bhopal.

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, then please head on over to 5minutedisasters.com/coffee to see how.

An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutedisasters.com/the-bhopal-gas-tragedy/

Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Murder, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at:

• 5minutebiographies.com
• 5minutehistory.com
• 5minutemurder.com
• 5minutemysteries.com
• 5minutewarfare.com

In the fourteenth episode of 5 Minute Disasters, we recount the tragic events of the 1977 Tenerife Airport disaster, the deadliest aviation accident in history. In just five minutes, we’ll take you through the sequence of miscommunications, dense fog, and procedural errors that led to two jumbo jets colliding on the runway, resulting in the deaths of 583 people. This episode explores the critical lessons learned from the disaster, which brought about major changes in aviation safety and communication protocols. Join us to discover how this catastrophe unfolded and its lasting impact on air travel worldwide.

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, then please head on over to 5minutedisasters.com/coffee to see how.

An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutedisasters.com/the-1977-tenerife-airport-disaster/

Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Murder, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at:

• 5minutebiographies.com
• 5minutehistory.com
• 5minutemurder.com
• 5minutemysteries.com
• 5minutewarfare.com