When disaster strikes, the world often stops for a moment as people freeze in shock, fear, or awe. These photos capture those exact instants. From fireballs in the sky to cities swallowed by water and ash, each image in this collection marks the split second when everything changed, whether from terrorism or natural disasters.
1. Mount St. Helens Erupting in Washington (1980)
2. Tornado in Oklahoma (1898)
3. Challenger Space Shuttle Exploding (1986)
4. September 11 Attacks (2001)
5. Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explosion (2010)
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6. Banqiao Dam Disaster (1975)
7. Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster (1986)
8. Texas City Disaster (1947)
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9. Port Chicago Disaster (1944)
10. Hurricane Katrina (2005)
11. Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Crisis: Triple Tragedy in Japan (2011)
12. Armero Tragedy Caused by the Nevado Volcano in Colombia (1985)
13. Oklahoma City Bombing (1995)
14. Costa Concordia Shipwreck (2012)
15. San Francisco Earthquake and Fire (1906)
16. The Great New England Hurricane (1938)
17. The Halifax Explosion (1917)
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