Catastrophes
Tragic accidents occur all the time, often without any warning. One second, things are fine, and the next, the catastrophe occurs. Here are some chilling photos that were taken moments before tragedy struck.
The Space Shuttle Challenger, 72 Seconds Before It Exploded
On January 28, 1986, The Challenger was set to go off the space. This mission was going to be special because a civilian schoolteacher named Christa McAuliffe was going into space, and she was going to teach her children from there. Children all around the country tuned in from their classrooms to watch the shuttle head to outer space. Less than two minutes after it launched, it exploded midair, and everyone on board was killed. Today, NASA holds a “Day of Remembrance” for those who lost their lives that day.
Lelisa Desisa Wins the Boston Marathon Two Hours Before It Is Bombed
On April 15, 2013, Lelisa Desisa, an Ethiopian runner, won the Boston Marathon. When he crossed the finish line, it was a beautiful day for everyone. Nobody knew that two hours after this photo was taken that a heinous act of terrorism occurred. Two young men left homemade bombs at the finish line, and they detonated, killing three people, including an 8-year-old boy, and injured nearly 300. After the bombing, the suspects continued their crime spree by killing a university police officer, carjacking a young man, and turning a suburban street into a war zone by shooting at police officers and throwing explosives.
Jadiel’s Last Instagram Photo
Ramon Alberto Gonzales Adoams is better known as Jadiel. He is a rapper and reggaeton artist who was originally for Puerto Rico. He loved riding his motorcycle almost as much as he loved performing. This photo was taken right before he took his final ride. On Saturday, May 27, 2014, he was riding in Rochester, New York, when his motorcycle collided with a car. He was only 27-years-old at the time of his death.
John F. Kennedy On His Final Car Ride
One of the worst days in America’s history was the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This is a photo of John F. Kennedy taking his final ride in the back of a limo. When shots fired, President Kennedy was killed, and Texas Governor, John Connally was injured. Not long after, a man named Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the crime.
The Hindenburg Right Before It Exploded
On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg took flight. It was the most luxurious airship of its time, and it was capable of carrying 100 passengers. It was powered by 7 million cubic feet of hydrogen, and a gas leak caused it to explode, killing 36 people. This photo was taken minutes before the explosion.
A Few Minutes Before Archduke Franz Ferdinand Was Murdered, Which Caused World War I
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was driving through the streets of Sarajevo with his wife, Sophie Chotek. A 19-year-old assassin named Gavrilo Princip shot him, which is what set World War I into motion. This photo was taken moments before that history-making gunshot.
Hiroshima, Right Before the Bomb Dropped
On August 6, 1945, the U.S. flew the Elona Gay over the Japanese city, Hiroshima. They dropped a 5-ton nuclear bomb nicknamed “Little Boy.” The immediate impact of the bomb killed over 80,000 people within four square miles. Later, thousands of more people would die due to radiation poisoning. This photo was taken immediately before the bomb dropped.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
This photo was taken by Cor Pan on July 17, 2014, and posted on Facebook. The caption translated to, “Should it disappear.” The reason for the caption was that just a few months earlier, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared. Sadly, this airplane would disappear, because it was shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine. There were almost 300 people on board, and they were all killed.
The Last Photo of Tupac Shakur
On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was in Las Vegas, driving in the passenger seat of a white Cadillac, and Suge Knight was driving. A fellow rapper took just a few moments after this photo, someone shot up the Cadillac, killing Tupac. This is the last photo that was ever taken of him. His case is still unsolved today.
The Eagles of Death Metal’s Nightmare Of a Concert
On November 13, 2015, the Eagles of Death Metal, a chilling photo, were playing a show in Paris. Around 9:40 pm, three gunmen went into the venue and open fired on the crowd. The French police killed the gunmen after they killed 90 people. One of the people who died was Nick Alexander, the 36-year-old merchandise manager for the band. Three months later, the band returned to Paris to play a tribute concert for those who were killed or injured. Many people came to the show wearing t-shirts for their deceased loved ones. Others came in on crutches or using canes. This photo was taken minutes before the shooting occurred.
The Titanic Right Before Its Fatal Voyage
The Titanic, the most luxurious ocean liner of its time, was said to be unsinkable. In April 1912, it set sail, only to crash into an iceberg, and it sank. Because there weren’t enough lifeboats onboard, over 1,500 people died. This is a photo of the Titanic shortly before it left port, and sailed to its doom.
The Aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami
The day after Christmas in 2004, when an earthquake ripped up the seabed of the Indian Ocean. It wasn’t the earthquake that caused the devastation; it was the Tsunami that occurred the took the lives of nearly 250,000 by the end of the day. This is a satellite photo of Sri Lanka after the tsunami, and the beachfront is gone. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.
The Destroyed Compound at Waco
The Branch Davidians were a Christian sect led by David Koresh. Koresh combined the Bible, polygamy, weapons, and child abuse. Finally, the ATF decided to take action. The mission resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Davidians. The FBI took over, and a 51-day siege took place. When a fire started on the 51st day, 76 Davidians, including David Koresh died. This is a chilling photo moments after the fire broke out.
New Orleans Underwater
Hurricane Katria hit New Orleans hard. After the levy broke around the city, 80 percent of it was underwater. The actual death toll is unknown. The lowest estimated number is 900, and the highest is 4,000. Many of the bodies washed away or just couldn’t be documented due to the damage in the city. This chilling photo was taken the day that the levees broke, on August 29, 2005.
Deepwater Horizon After the Blast
Deepwater Horizon was an oil rig in the middle of the ocean. On April 20, 2010, the crew knew that there were problems on the rig, but the execs on board insisted that they keep going. It resulted in a surge of highly flammable gas coming up out of a pipe, causing a massive explosion. That day, 11 people were killed, and many more were injured. It was also the worst oil spill in U.S. history. This chilling photo was taken after the blast when they were trying to get the fire under control.
