Disaster Specials: Kings Cross/Kansas City

Synopsis

Two programmes specially created to provide information and raise issues relating to health and safety, crisis management and post-disaster supervision. The first is on the Kings Cross underground fire which broke out as commuters were on their way home on 18 November 1987. The second is on the collapse of the recently opened Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City in July 198, during a tea dance.

Series

Disaster, Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2002

Subjects

Engineering; Health & safety

Keywords

accident investigation; architectural design; fire investigation; safety training; structural engineering; Kings Cross fire

Credits

Director

Paul Burgess

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£330.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

2 x 30 minutes

Year

2009

Sections

Title

Kings Cross - Beneath the Flames

Synopsis

Over thirty people died in the Kings Cross underground fire, which broke out as commuters headed home on November 18, 1987. At around 19.30 a passenger on an escalator lit a cigarette and dropped the match. The results of this seemingly tiny action were disastrous. The miniscule fire fed on grease on the moving stairway and in 10 minutes had engulfed the wooden treads on the steps. Fifteen minutes later the flames had reached the Kings Cross ticket hall, then erupted in a fireball, filling the crowded station with poisonous black smoke. Many of those who died were killed instantly. Almost 15 years on, King’s Cross - Beneath the Flames, examines one of the UK’s worst ever disasters. Also contains three 5-minute modules addressing key elements of the catastrophe.

Duration

30 mins

Title

Kansas City - Death by Design

Synopsis

On a hot July evening in 1981, 2000 people were enjoying a tea dance at the recently opened Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Kansa City, Missouri. A few minutes after 7pm one of the walkways collapsed onto the catwalk below, then crashed to the floor beneath. Over one hundred people were killed. Hundreds more were injured and mutilated. This comprehensive and dramatic film recreates that fatal evening, explaining why so many people lost their lives and how many more were saved by the rescue operation. Kansas City - Death by Design reveals a catalogue of horrific human error, architectural flaws and tragic occurrences that culminated in one of the accidental structural failure in American history. Also contains three 5-minute modules addressing key elements of the catastrophe.

Duration

30 mins

Production Company

Name

BBC Worldwide

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’