TV series
Seconds from Disaster is a US/UK-produced documentary television programme that investigates historically relevant man-made and natural disasters of the 20th century. Each episode aims to explain a single incidental by analyzing the causes and circumstances that ultimately effected the disaster. The program uses re-enactments, interviews, testimonies, and CGI to analyze the sequence of events second-by-second for the audience. Narrators for the show are Ashton Smith, Richard Vaughan and Peter Guinness.
Watch trailerAvailability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Seconds from Disaster premiered September 19, 2005. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Seconds from Disaster is a US/UK-produced documentary television programme that investigates historically relevant man-made and natural disasters of the 20th century. Each episode aims to explain a single incidental by analyzing the causes and circumstances that ultimately effected the disaster. The program uses re-enactments, interviews, testimonies, and CGI to analyze the sequence of events second-by-second for the audience. Narrators for the show are Ashton Smith, Richard Vaughan and Peter Guinness.
Cast, crew and production details
Peter GuinnessNarrator
Ryo TakagiSelf
Timothy McVeighSelf (archival footage)
Bill ClintonSelf (archival footage)
Seven NetworkAustralia
VicelandUnited States
Fox Life
National Geographic
DSPUnited KingdomWatch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.
Episode 1
On July 22, 2011, a gunman goes on a terrorist rampage – starting with an explosion in Oslo and ending with the slaughter of dozens of teenagers.
Directed by John MaidensGuest stars Anders Behring Breivik
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 2
On November 18, 1978, when enigmatic cult leader Reverend Jim Jones calls all his followers together in South America, the resulting tragedy becomes the largest mass murder-suicide of US citizens in history - 909 are dead.
Guest stars Jim Jones
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 3
On September 2, 1998, a fire broke out on Swissair Flight 111 while in-flight, damaging vital systems and causing the aircraft to crash into the sea off Peggy's Cove with no survivors. The fire was caused by faulty wiring in the onboard first class entertainment system.
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 4
On October 3–4, 1993, what should have been a simple snatch and grab operation for the US Army in Somalia turns into a battle that kills 18 US Rangers and around 1,000 Somali civilians.
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 5
On May 10–11, 1996 saw the death of nine climbers, including New Zealand climbing veteran Rob Hall. Was it a fierce storm, extreme ambition or something else that caused their demise?
Directed by Gareth JohnsonGuest stars Lou Kasischke, Lene Gammelgaard, Neal Beidleman
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 6
On August 12, 1985, the rear pressure bulkhead burst on Japan Airlines Flight 123, destroying the vertical stabilizer and severing all four of the aircraft's vital hydraulic systems. The crew kept the aircraft flying for 32 minutes until it clipped Mt Osutaka and crashed, killing all but 4 people out of the 524 passengers and crew aboard.
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 7
On April 25, 2005, a seven-car commuter train came off the tracks and crashed just before Amagasaki Station in Japan causing 107 deaths and 562 injuries.
Guest stars Ryo Takagi
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 8
On August 9, 1945, the United States of America, during the final stages of World War II in 1945 bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki causing a huge death toll.
Directed by John Maidens
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 9
On May 25, 1982, in the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina a low level bomb attack from the Argentinian jets capsizes the HMS Coventry within 20 minutes - why did the ship sink so quickly?
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode 10
On August 6, 2011, a U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinook was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board.
Where to watch Seconds from DisasterEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
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