Engineering Catastrophes

Residents along the Pacific Coast Highway are cut off from the outside world after a storm causes a bridge to buckle. Experts reveal how the construction method of the old concrete bridge left it vulnerable to erosion on the steep coastline.

In Puerto Rico, an iconic observatory nestled into a giant crater has to close after cables holding up a critical platform come crashing down. Experts analyze the cumulative effects that led to the collapse of this awe-inspiring structure.

A crane collapse leaves seven dead on a holiday weekend in Manhattan. An investigation reveals how a shortcut taken while raising the crane left the machine swaying in the wind without proper lateral support.

On a snowy morning in Pittsburgh, a messy commute becomes dangerous after a bridge collapses. An investigation reveals how corrosion and other environmental factors helped bring down this decades-old structure.

An aging dam in Nebraska is overcome by flooding after the area is hit with a devastating "bomb cyclone." An investigation reveals that massive chunks of ice unleashed by the superstorm played a critical role in the failure of the old structure.

In Scotland, a distinguished library is ravaged by not one but two disastrous fires. Experts explore how outdated construction methods and materials contributed to the vulnerability of this esteemed place of learning.

Twenty people are killed after a hotel explodes on a cold Saturday morning in America's heartland. An investigation into the tragedy leads underground, where gas lines supplied the iconic building.