Seismic Seconds

Seismic Seconds
Genre	Short documentary
Created by	National Geographic
Developed by	Unknown
Country of origin	Unknown
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	National Geographic Channel
Release	Unknown – Unknown

Seismic Seconds was a National Geographic Channel series that revealed the causes of 6 tragedies. The more well-known sequel to Seismic Seconds, Seconds From Disaster, replaced the short documentary.

Episodes

#	Title	Disaster	Date of Disaster	Nature of Disaster
1	Bhopal Gas Disaster	Bhopal disaster	3 December, 1984	Human error
	In the early hours of 3 December 1984, something at the pesticide factory in Bhopal went wrong. Pipes began shaking and concrete cracked. Suddenly, lethal methyl-iso-cyanide smoke spewed out of the chimney. Between 16,000 and 30,000 people choked as the cloud of toxic gas blanketed Bhopal. A simple cleaning operation led to the worst industrial disaster ever.
2	Crash of TWA 800	TWA Flight 800	17 July, 1996	Electrical fault, central fuel tank explosion
	TWA Flight 800 takes-off from John F. Kennedy Airport, New York City. 12 minutes into the flight, the 747 encounters an unknown problem. A place where two wires were close together had no plastic containing the wires. The pilots send a message through the radio. Electricity flows into the unprotected area and short circuits into the other wire which goes to the center fuel tank. Faulty wires there with no plastic covering start a spark that heads to the fuel tank. The jet fuel explodes and the force causes the walls splitting the tank into sections crash into each other like dominoes. It hits the end of the fuel tank and causes cracking which spreads outside the plane. The cracking causes the nose to fall off. The plane rises and then disintegrates as it falls. All 230 passengers, crew and pilots die.
3	The Eruption of Mount Saint Helens	1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens	18 May, 1980	Lava bulge opened by earthquake, volcanic eruption
	Mount St. Helens was a peaceful volcano for 123 years with its breath-taking scenery until a massive eruption blew the top off the mountain. A giant avalanche of ash and rock hurled down the mountain. Lahars swept nearby rivers and 57 tourists and scientists perished. What caused this sleeping giant to erupt so violently?
4	Death of Ayrton Senna	1994 San Marino Grand Prix crash	1 May, 1994	Mechanical failure, driver error
	In 1994, at the San Marino Grand Prix track, famous racer Ayrton Senna was competing in his racing vehicle. Suddenly, during a turn, the car lost control and slamed into the circuit limits. Senna's car broke into pieces. A wheel hits the racer's head, killing him instantly. Why did the car crash in the first place?
5	Sinking of HMS Coventry	HMS Coventry sinking	25 May, 1982	Enemy aircraft bombing, failed intercept of HMS Broadway
	During the 1982 Falklands War (Malvinas War by the Argentinians), two British warships, HMS Coventry and HMS Broadway, prepared for battle. An attack force of Argentinian aircraft arrived. HMS Broadway tried to intercept the attack, but it was too late. The Argentinian aircraft bombed the Coventry's deck and the ship sank. Why was the Coventry not more damage-resistent? Why were the ships unable to detect the fighter-bombers until it was too late?
6	The Airshow Miracle	RIAT MiG-29 collision	24 July, 1993	Pilot error
	During the 1993 Royal International Air Tattoo, two warplanes were flying some acrobatic moves in front of spectators, when something went wrong and the aeroplanes collided and fell from the sky. Both pilots ejected from the planes before crashing. What caused this near catastrophe?

See also

• Seconds From Disaster
• Air Crash Investigation
• Blueprint for Disaster
• Situation Critical