Inferno at Sea: The Dona Paz Tragedy

In this week’s Catastrophe Chronicles, we navigate the horrifying story of the Dona Paz, the maritime disaster so catastrophic it makes Titanic look like a luxury getaway.

On December 20, 1987, the Dona Paz—a passenger ferry in the Philippines—collided with an oil tanker, igniting an explosion that turned the sea into a fiery deathtrap. Over 4,300 people perished, making it the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history. That’s right—peacetime. This wasn’t wartime carnage; it was bureaucracy, negligence, and bad luck all rolled into one infernal package.

In the episode, we unravel the events leading up to that tragic night: an overcrowded ferry with questionable safety standards, an oil tanker carrying its own recipe for disaster, and a lack of basic communication that sealed thousands of fates. We also touch on the appalling aftermath, where many victims weren’t even officially counted, leaving grieving families without closure.

But don’t worry—it’s not all doom and gloom. We pepper in just enough dark humor to keep you afloat, because if we can’t laugh at human incompetence, how will we ever cope with it? There’s also a cocktail to match the episode’s fiery theme (minus the explosions).

So, grab your life jacket (or maybe a drink instead) and join us as we delve into the chilling, heartbreaking, and sometimes infuriating tale of the Dona Paz. Because nothing says “holiday spirit” quite like recounting one of history’s most avoidable tragedies.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts—and maybe double-check your ferry’s safety record next time you travel.

Articles:

https://safety4sea.com/cm-sinking-of-dona-paz-the-worlds-deadliest-shipping-accident/

https://maritime-executive.com/article/asias-titanic-thousands-died-thirty-years-ago

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227340138_The_Sinking_of_the_MV_Dona_Paz_-_I_An_analysis_of_the_event

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227340139_THE_SINKING_OF_THE_DONA_PAZ_-_A_CRITIQUE_ON_MARITIME_DISASTER_PREPAREDNESS_IN_THE_PHILIPPINES_II_Policy_implications?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19

https://owlcation.com/stem/Top-10-Worst-Shark-Attacks-in-the-World

Documentaries:

National Geographics “Asia’s Titanic.”