The National Geographic documentary series Disaster Autopsy dissects real-world disasters, offering insightful analyses.
In this episode, airing on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 10:00 p.m., the show examines three catastrophic events: the Lac-Mégantic train crash, the Imperial Sugar refinery explosion, and the Ever Given container ship accident in the Suez Canal.
The Lac-Mégantic rail disaster occurred on July 6, 2013, when an unattended 74-car freight train carrying crude oil rolled downhill into the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, derailing and causing explosions and fires that destroyed much of the town’s center and killing 47 people. The incident remains one of the deadliest rail disasters in Canadian history.
Turning to the Imperial Sugar refinery explosion, on February 7, 2008, in Port Wentworth, Georgia, years of poor maintenance and lax safety standards culminated in a catastrophic explosion. The blast killed 14 people and injured dozens more, with sugar dust—a highly combustible substance—playing a central role in the tragedy.
The episode also investigates the Ever Given incident, which blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March 2021. The massive container ship ran aground, disrupting global trade and costing Egypt millions of dollars in losses.
Disaster Autopsy: Sugar Factory, Lac-Mégantic Train, Suez Canal airs Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. on National Geographic.
