The most terrible and expensive disasters take thousands of victims and lead to multimillion and multibillion losses. Such stories form the basis of films and are necessarily included in the story. Today we tell about the 10 most devastating disasters in the history of the world.
10. Shipwreck of the Titanic liner
North Atlantic. Losses: $ 150 million
The creators of the Titanic were confident in its unsinkability, since at that time the ship was the most powerful ship. But he did not live even five days. The liner was put into operation on April 10, and already 15 - collided with an iceberg. At the beginning of the XX century it was the largest disaster.
9. Wiehltal Bridge Crash
Gummersbach, Germany. Losses: $ 358 million
Passenger sports car at full speed collided with a crowded fuel truck. He caught fire and exploded, damaging the bridge. It is good that the nearby houses did not suffer, but the authorities spent more than three hundred million dollars on the reconstruction of the bridge and the road.
8. California train collision
Los Angeles, USA. Losses: $ 500 million
In September 12, 2008, a collision between two trains occurred on a California railroad. As a result of the accident, not only vehicles were damaged, but passengers were also injured. Of these, twenty-five people died, 135 were injured. Metrolink train manufacturing company suffered enormous losses, including by allocating funds to compensate the families of the victims. Experts considered that negligence became the cause of the crash: the driver was distracted by a mobile phone while driving.
7. The collapse of the B-2 invisible bomber
Guam Island, Pacific Ocean. Losses: $ 4 billion
The stealth B-2 military aircraft crashed on the island of Guam on February 23, 2008. Fortunately, both pilots managed to eject and thanks to this they survived, but the plane burned to the ground. The experts called the cause of the malfunction and, as a result, incorrect readings of the sensors of the air pressure receiver. Today it is the first accident among such bombers and the most expensive plane crash in the world.
6. Oil leak from Exxon Valdez tanker
Alaska. Losses: $ 2.5 billion
Despite the fact that the Exxon Valdez oil spill is not the largest fuel release into the sea, this accident is considered one of the largest since it occurred far from the coast, in an inaccessible place, and huge amounts were spent on eliminating the oil stain. In total, about 260 thousand barrels of oil spilled into the sea. There were several reasons for this, mainly the human factor.
5. Ignition on the oil platform
North Sea, Pipfer Alpha Platform. Losses: $ 3.4 billion
The miscalculation of the technical personnel of the oil platform led to a hydrocarbon explosion and a fire supported by the gas coming through the pipelines. Killed 167 workers. It is considered one of the largest disasters in the oil industry.
4. The accident on the space shuttle Challenger
Florida, USA Losses of $ 5.5 billion
The space shuttle Challenger was in transit for only 73 seconds, after which it collapsed due to a fuel tank explosion. 7 crew members were killed. It happened in 1986.
3. The accident on the tanker Prestige
Bay of Biscay. Losses: $ 12 billion
In 2002, another oil tanker exploded, causing an environmental disaster off the coast of Europe. This time it was the Prestige tanker, from which the largest oil leak occurred - 77,000 tons. The accident was triggered by a severe storm, due to which a crack of 35 meters formed on board, later the sea vessel split into two parts and sank.
2. The explosion on the shuttle Columbia
Losses: $ 13 billion
Another shuttle caused huge losses to the Americans. Unlike the Challenger, he managed to visit space 28 times, but the 29th launch was his last. The shuttle began to collapse during entry into the dense layers of the atmosphere, after which all seven astronauts died. The cause of the accident is technological malfunctions.
1. Accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
Pripyat, Ukraine. Losses: $ 200 billion
The explosion of the fourth power unit due to the carelessness of employees led to the explosion of the power plant (1986), the consequences of which are still felt by people around the world. It is believed that this is the largest accident in nuclear power, not only in the number of alleged victims, but also in environmental and economic damage. 200 billion dollars is only an approximate figure of the cost of liquidation.
