The catastrophic events of humanity
And from mistakes, we must learn! A small detail can be the cause of thousands of lives lost.
Check out these disasters that occurred due to safety failures and/or poorly executed projects by unqualified or irresponsible professionals.
1 – Leaning Tower of Pisa
You’ve heard of the famous leaning tower, right? The Tower of Pisa, in Italy, is a white marble masterpiece built in three phases over approximately 177 years.
What happened?
In the 20th century, the tower began tilting about 1.2 mm per year. When the lean reached 4.5 meters off the vertical axis in 1990, it was closed to the public due to collapse risk. The cause? Unstable soil made of sand and clay layers.
Why hasn’t it fallen yet?
Physics explains! Its equilibrium is considered stable. Due to the tilt, the center of gravity rises, generating torque that prevents it from falling. Engineers estimate it will remain stable for another 200 years.
2 – Chernobyl Nuclear Plant
It’s almost impossible not to have heard of this one. The infamous nuclear plant is located in Chernobyl, Ukraine.
So, what happened?
During a capacity test, the system overloaded. The cooling system failed, overheating the reactor core, which reached extremely high temperatures. This led to a steam explosion, destroying the reactor’s roof—over 1,000 tons.
After the accident, 130,000 people were displaced. The area was abandoned and became uninhabitable. WHO estimates 4,000 deaths. The Kyiv Institute of Radiology reports 31 direct deaths and 50,000 contaminated, many developing cancer over time.
3 – Hyatt Regency Hotel
Located in Missouri, USA, the Hyatt Regency Hotel was built starting in 1978 and inaugurated on July 17, 1981. The disaster killed 114 people and injured over 200 during a dance competition with 2,000 participants.
The skywalks on the second and fourth floors collapsed. The design could barely support its own weight and failed under the crowd’s load.
The engineers from Jack D. Gillum and Associates were charged with professional misconduct. Their licenses were revoked, and the hotel’s owner paid over $140 million in lawsuits to victims and families.
4 – Deepwater Horizon Platform
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, spilling oil that reached several US states. After burning for two days, the rig sank.
The accident was caused by a mechanical failure during the final phase of drilling a deep-sea oil well. An estimated 180 million gallons of oil were spilled into the ocean. Seventeen workers were injured, eleven died, and the spill killed 8,000 animals.
5 – The Great Molasses Flood
This unusual disaster occurred in Boston, USA. A molasses storage tank owned by Purity Distilling Company exploded 15 meters above ground.
The company, focused solely on profit, failed to hire qualified engineers. The tank was poorly assembled and rarely tested. As a result, about 150 people were injured, and 21 were killed—crushed or drowned in sticky debris flowing through the streets.
