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Hey man, I appreciate you covering such an obscure story in vulcanology I from Pasto and I lived both 2005 and 2008 eruptions. It was mesmerizing and scary to see the whole city covered in ash, and in 2008 we heard a loud boom and everything shook for a moment, as if a big firecracker exploded right outside our home. We went out to see what happened and we saw the lava spewing out in the middle of the night. Adding to the story, just as a curious sidenote, its name given by the indians here is "Urkunina", which translates to "fire mountain", and there's a fair bit of superstition around the volcano, with many believing human presence can "anger it", and attributing sudden, dense mist when climbing it to some people disrespecting the volcano. Still, in local folklore it's considered sort of a guardian of the people livingg around it, and several populations refuse to leave since the land is rich, fertile, and the weather quite pleasant in many spots. It's a shame tours have been prohibited indefinitely for over a decade now, but many folks still manage to climb it anyways every once in a while. Anyways, I digress, thanks for your video, I enjoyed it a lot.
It's not neccesarily too dangerous depending on the kind of volcano and it's current level of activity. Plenty of people live inside large volcanic craters called calderas. However completely ignoring warning signs and not wearing safety gear is really Darwin Award level, especially lulling others into a false sense of security and shaming them for being actually safety-conscious.
Unfortunately, some people put all their trust in scientists and other "experts", rather than listening to their guts and the reasons they shouldn't do things like this. The eruption of White Island sticks in my head.
They were all grown men and experts who knew the risks and they lost… it’s a shame but its all on them not just one fool but each and every one of them.
100% true. I've climbed two active volcanoes. I was amazed how people just didn't take the park service's advice seriously. If someone laughed at me for being safety conscious, I'd laugh at them.
There's another part to this story. That tremor that they referred to as the screw was harmonic tremor. Think of the vibration of pulling a wooden chest along a floor, it is that sort of vibration, it is magma moving. It is very different from the tremors caused by tectonic earthquakes and it precedes the quakes that happen in the minutes before an eruption. The day before at the conference another scientist gave a presentation on his research that indicated that harmonic tremor showed that an eruption was imminent. Williams and some others wouldn't accept that. (It is a common issue that people want to think their research is what counts.) The other scientist told them not to go up to the volcano the next day, he said it was fire too dangerous and an eruption should be happening very soon. He went home later that day. Williams ignored the warnings and the research, that is why people died that day.
@@CoMorbiditty You can get surface tremors that aren't harmonic tremor and magma might be quite far down, although the frequency changes as it nears the surface due to the pressure changes affecting the size of gas bubbles.
@@CoMorbiditty Go to Google maps and search for Earthquakes and Seismo stations around the Reykjanes Peninsula. Then click on the seismo for Grindavik and select the drumplot. Harmonic tremor is seen as the wider lines.
Thank you for including your additional knowledge here. It's all so fascinating. When I was a youngster I really wanted to be a volcanologist. I lived in Southern Oregon when St Helens blew. We were glad the wind was blowing East. I'm 65 now, so not much chance of climbing the mountains. But I still gravitate to the stories & documentaries.
I saw a documentary about that other scientist you mentioned, or rather it was about his theory, and about predicting volcanic eruptions. Really interesting stuff and it was a great documentary. I'm guessing that's where you got your information from?
I read the book “No Apparent Danger” many years ago. (Even included it one a “My Recommendations” list on Amazon way back when😊.) The young women scientists were true heroes. It is so awful that Williams did not insist on safety equipment and preparation. It’s beyond the pale. He does bear much responsibility for the tragedy.
there weren't any standard requirement. plus going up a mountain with heavy gear would just be taxing. sure in hindsight we can say they should have done this or that but at the time there wasn't a consensus regarding safety. it's down to the individual if they wanted to protect themselves. going through wiki, it seems after this incident volcanologist are more aware of the danger and are encouraged to wear hard hat and fireproof attire. as for the "prediction" of volcano eruption we can't do that, that's why they're researching volcanos still. the "prediction" was just one printout of a specific type of earthquake that preceded eruption. But it also appear with non eruptive events too (according to wiki).
@@takumi2023 In the last 50ish years, our ability to predict volcanic eruptions has actually grown by leaps and bounds. It's been a very exciting time for volcanologists. And this disaster was a key step in that development. While it's not a perfect warning signal, the seismic signals seen prior to this eruption would today be grounds to bar anyone from going into the crater of a volcano they'd been heard from. William's didn't help his reputation amongst his fellow volcanologists by his behavior and comments after the incident (e.g. claiming to be the only survivor), but even the more generous interpretations of his decision to lead others into the volcano really only take that choice from outright negligently homicidal to merely alarmingly reckless. Today more often than not we can predict when volcano's are entering a more active phase, the big next steps people are working on are reliably predicting exactly when that active phase might peak, and how big any eruptions will be.
Heroines reveal themselves when their moment comes. Clearly the two women had the courage and determination that was required. I am so glad they survived without serious injury.
On a normal day, venturing into the crater isn't too dangerous, but carrying gas masks and wearing hard-hats is generally recommended. But doing so when the seismographs are going crazy and just dismissing that danger is beyond stupid.
There were two genuine heroes in this story, or should I say heroines: Marta and Patty, and yet they are neither pictured nor mentioned in the summation of the story. I hope that somewhere in his writings and talks about this horrific misadventure Williams acknowledges the two women and their bravery. Williams seems a man brimming with hubris. If he feels no guilt whatsoever, it is likely because apparently he is a major narcissist.
Exactly. I have immense respect for the two ladies! - And it should also be pointed out that Marta didn't think it was safe to go, so Williams dismissing the danger only further confirms his irresponsibility. I wonder if the four tourists may have decided to go there because they knew about the scientists' trip and thought that if these experts were going, it had to be safe...
As leader, Williams certainly carries the most blame. For not listening to the warnings not to go. For not making sure every1 were properly equipped. For not listening to the warning while up there, that they needed to leave, instead telling ppl to take their time. That said, every1 chose to go up there. They were volcanologists, they knew the risks. They chose to go anyway, and they chose to go without proper equipment. They too chose to ignore all warnings, both b4 and during the expedition. Giving Williams all the blame is the easy, simple way, but they all had responsibility for themselves. Lets remember, there were more ppl than the expedition up there. There was the tv crew, who got really lucky, coz they survived, and then they friggin stayed to film it all instead of going off to safety. And instead of helping grieviously wounded ppl. But if I am to blame any1, its whomever took those tourists up there. Volcanologists know the risks, tourists do not.
Those tourist knew they were going to an active volcano, and those stupid people and guides paid the price. As the Led Zepplin song goes It's nobody's fault, but mine. 🫢
That's really harsh! Williams was horribly injured and others died. Unless you were there, criticism is just as arrogant as those people that predicted the eruption times. Cast the first stone.
@@davidmurray6176 They take tours of the volcanos of Hawaii often (or at least they used to). When I was little I thought all volcanic fields were like the videos of Hawaii and you could pay for a tour. Now I know that those Hawaiian tours have marked paths that take you through "safe" older flows, but that is not what the tourism videos made it look like. I can understand the tourists thinking a tour guide knew what they were doing in taking them to the top but I would never have climbed down a rope into the cone.
@@davidmurray6176 telling people they're going to an active volcano and they're going to a volcano that could massively explode at any time are completely different scenarios
I read that people often hiked to the summit of Galeras, although not into the crater. Not sure why the 3 tourists ventured in there that day, but they were locals: a teacher, his son and the son’s friend. I think it’d be overstating to say they were fully aware of the danger, but living in the shadow of Galeras (and less than 10 years out from the catastrophic Nevada del Ruiz eruption), they couldn’t fool themselves that it was an entirely safe jaunt.
You know why hardhats are required at construction sites, regardless of what you're doing or what's going on? It saves lives. Not a chance they shouldn't have had hats, mask, and planned escape, at minimum. Williams definitely should have taken some responsibility, I believe.
He should have felt at least a LITTLE guilty. He seemed to have little to no remorse and straight-up lied in a book from which he profited. He really is a piece of work.
He has severe disabilities after his injuries, including depression. Several of the problems, he suffers after the injuries, are also common symptoms of brain damage, especially frontal lobe brain damage, which would also strongly effect his personality and his ability to feel remorse. Im not excusing him, but it is an obvious explanation for his behavior in the years after.
Exactly. "The man that went into that volcano died...I'm not that person." Just more BS to try to distance himself from liability or responsibility for the tragedy. And did I hear right he still has a job at ASU? Obviously he's not that bad off.
If your narration is anywhere close to the truth, this is a classic example of hubris going before the fall. Instead of making them more cautious of a volcano's destructive capacity, their expertise made them more complacent. I'm thankful that the woman who knew better than to go on the expedition, but still risked herself to help rescue people, wasn't hurt.
After getting a number of those people killed, he STILL refuses to accept responsibility for leading a team up the volcano after being TOLD an eruption was imminent, he lead them into the crater, and dawdled when getting a report of seismic activity because he was cocksure he was right about his theories on how to predict an oncoming eruption. His ego and arrogance knows no bounds. Sure, everyone knew there were risks, but he kept assuring everyone that there was no way the volcano could erupt; he gave everyone a false sense of relative safety and went so far as to mock the few who did show any safety awareness. The only justice for the victims is that he is now physically and cognitively impaired for the rest of his life.
Too bad Williams' head injuries didn't bonk his arrogance out. As a fellow American, I object to his characterization of us as addicted to risky adventures, then prone to sue over bad outcomes. Each charge fits some people, but both do not fit most people. Most of us avoid moronically dangerous situations, and most do not pursue fame or money in the courts when we're our own victims. Maybe the scientist should study his own life choices before he returns to poking apocalyptic planetary monsters with his stick.
A story I never heard of. Those poor men & what they suffered. Those two brave women that wouldn't give up hope. Amazingly narrated, OD!!!!♡ Now, I wanna grab those two books.
It would be like a divorce case: he said/she said. Still Williams as the leader was responsible to ensure all safety precautions were taken. No one believed David Johnson about Mt. St. Helen. He described exactly what would happen and totally ignored. Johnson had tried to get the red zone expanded and shaped differently. What if folks had listened
Please DON'T BUY the book written by the expedition leader. He should not make a penny off this story. See if you can find it in a library, through interlibrary loan, or, if you must buy a copy, buy a used copy. I have only contempt for that man for his unprofessional, wreckless behavior & flippant attitude toward the deaths & injuries suffered by others. ANY decent human being would feel some degree of guilt for his arrogance, mocking people for having safety equipment, telling people to "take their time" in the crater, etc. Maybe the others knew the risks they were taking but when you do this shit you also endanger the lives of people trying to rescue you. At least the 2 women who went to rescue them didn't die in the attempt, & neither did the men that joined them later. It's one thing to die because you are careless or stupid or overly confident, but to die because you are courageous & want to save others is a whole other degree of tragedy.
@@DonnaBrooks Thank you, Donna. Since learning of this preventable tragedy, I haven't purchased either book yet. I will do as you asked. I will look for a used or library book as far as the one written by the expedition leader. I've read articles regarding this incident & so many felt just like you do. Thank you for responding. ⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️
@@DonnaBrooks clearly you don’t understand the volcanolgy community our job is to understand what makes volcanoes work and save lives if you have seen an eruption in your lifetime or have a chance to experience one
The level of arrogance and complacency is frustrating at first. That being said, the hard wired need to learn and discover is very admirable. And the courage shown by the rest of the group really shows the bond they share. What an incredible story!
Of course William's is going to deny his recklessness. The alternative is to admit he was partly responsible for killing nine people. That's going to haunt him forever, as it should, even if he says differently. But, Marta and Patty saved his sorry a$$. He probably never even thanked them.
Its amazing how simple things like a hardhat might have changed the outcome. They were so intent on study to PREVENT and PREDICT danger that they totally overlooked the fact that they were IN danger! It does show that sometimes being a genious does NOT mean they have simple COMMON SENSE!!!
@@olive_and_orchard I'm not 100% sure of her opinion of Williams, but she's gone on to have a really impressive career at the Colombian Geological Survey, including heading their geohazard team. Her most recent paper came out in 2020.
@MissJediMouse He was her graduate advisor, and there can be a lasting loyalty with that. Can be, anyway. I know if I heard that my old advisor was ... well ... trapped under a pile of spreadsheets?? 😅 ..I'd try to save him!
I have never heard this story before. Not only it was sad to hear their fate but you narrated so well I needed to finish hearing the full story on my way to work. Excellent job, looking forward to other fresh stories. Thank you
@@bipolarmonkey77 you can also find this story on Volcano documentary on National Geographic Channel and its the very first story of the galeras tragedy
What the hell do you think you're talking about ? It would take something like 10,000 degrees F to "vaporize" a human body ! 1000 degrees F (temperature of average pyroclastic flow) won't get it done ! You would be "incinerated" (reduced to ash), but NOT vaporized.
@@ronanzann4851 Personally I love it when assholes like you - DONT GET THE JOKE - and try to impress everyone with your ‘knowledge”. Dude, you know you just made yourself look like a complete asshole with that statement, right? Go back to being anonymous, boy.
As a person who has been to a few active volcano's with volcanologist and having actually seen Pyroclastic-flows fairly close, I remember once asking a team member how dangerous a particular "mission" was... Oh it's safe he said, only about a 20% chance of dying... still not sure whether he was joking or not.
Nylon ropes melt at 400-450 degrees F. They are relatively slippery to grasp, even with intact palms and fingers. That safety line, as with so much else, was minimal. Gladly it was present… Dr. Williams may not have learned much; hubris being hard to burn away.
Narcissism and that higher education leads them to believe they always know what’s best and that they are each themselves the smartest person in the room sadly. It’s far more tragic when they lead others to such a fate.
Since this incident, it has become a little easier to predict the kind of "burp" that caused this incident. At the time, there was no certainty on when the next burp was going to happen. And of course, there are only some general rules that can be transfered between individual volcanoes.
There has been a kind of daredevil craze, much like the craze to summit Everest, to climb to the summits of the most famous of deadly volcanos like Anak Krakatau, especially, if an eruption could happen. It shows the reckless disregard for nature's power that some people have.
@@outdoordisastersI have a question. You talk about what was going through these peoples minds and how exactly they saw each other died and how they interpreted things as they happened. But some of the people you are speaking about didn't survive. And at one point you describe three men dying in very specific ways in a very specific order. Like being hot by a rock, then getting up and getting hit again. And what the person who saw him die was thinking just before he got hit in the head and was killed. How do you know these things when the people you describe died with no other witnesses?
@@christopherleveck6835 This sort of invention, without explaining it's invention, is what made me jaded about Mr Ballen too. Say "I imagine" and it's fine. It's really, really not fine without it.
@@christopherleveck6835 it is called fictional portrayal or dramatization. The author/narrator took actual events and built out the story, rather than only talking about the survivors. That doesn't make the story is untrue, just adds to it.
@@christopherleveck6835 It’s a topic of much contention in story telling. When it comes to real life events, especially ones where people lost their lives, a journalistic approach is usually taken. This means only facts are conveyed: you don’t talk about anything that isn’t directly supported with evidence, writings, or recordings. This is professional and largely considered the standard. Dramatization is the idea that you present the facts when it’s convenient, but the goal is to tell an interesting story above all else. This is largely frowned upon when lives are lost. The basic thinking is to write as if the families and survivors will be reading/watching, therefore you don’t want to insult them by implying a person did something in a certain way without proof. Legally, there’s a case that misrepresentation could result in a lawsuit too, so sticking to known facts is usually best practice. Situations like this, where real events are told dramatically and liberties are taken with the “facts,” are usually only found these days in UA-cam videos. Unsolved Mysteries was a show that tended to do this a lot, and they’re one reason the practice is seen as sort of tabloid-y. But UA-camrs do this because they’re not professionals. No disrespect, but most are amateurs who really don’t know anything about journalism or standard practices when it comes to covering real world events. They have a platform where they can reach millions of people, yet they don’t see themselves as being responsible for anyone or anything. They have no sense of duty or responsibility. Even though that’s precisely why the elements of journalism were drafted. As everyone’s favorite uncle once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” It doesn’t matter that UA-camrs SAY they’re just telling stories, or that they never claimed to be professionals. What matters is they have an enormous platform, a huge audience, and thus, power. Which means they have a responsibility, whether they like it or not. They must portray events as they happened, as supported by evidence, as if the survivors and families were their only audience, and stop dramatizing and adding little details and flair that can’t be supported just because they want to tell “a fun story.” Sorry I went off on a tangent there, but as a journalist myself I take these things very seriously, and it’s sad to me that so many content creators don’t know and don’t care about the rules that govern the medium of non-fiction story telling. They exist for a reason; drafted through the centuries by professionals who learned their lessons the hard way; imparted through the generations to make presentation of the truth an honest and compelling exercise for anyone and everyone. But no, “rules are meant to be broken,” and all that. Hope that helps!
I have heard the story recently elsewhere but I am more than glad that I listened a second time, or else I wouldn't have learned about the two immensely brave and determined ladies. Thanks for not ommitting their role!
Good morning JR, This had me riveted and on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was cringing as you were describing the injuries and fatalities that happened in the crater of Galeras. I'm glad that Williams and the three others made it out and survived but sad the others passed away. May the men who passed away rest in peace 🙏🕊️ have a great Sunday and start to a good week ahead!
Ppl that study these earthly calamities absolutely amaze me. I was never interested in volcanoes, earthquakes, large storms till I was older & Mt st Helen erupted in the 80s, my GG Mother & G mother lived in Tocamo Washington when it erupted. I spent 2 weeks their every summer, the eruption left 4 to 6 inches of ash all over my grand mother neighborhood, the mountain was literally blown in half. I still to this day have the canning jar of mt helen ash my G mother sent me. The power behind these types of disasters piqued my interest. Nice job on documentary thx😊
[19:47] "McFarlane understood that people caught in a volcanic explosion have a 50% chance of survival." Wait, what? That's the most ridiculous and obviously nonsensical statistic I've ever heard.
thank you I was looking for someone else who caught that lol. Far too broad of a statement, there are so many variables that impact survival chances, i have no idea where that stat would have come from 😭
It means with you either live or you die. There is no middle ground. That being said. Knowing there was volcanic unrest I would have put the ratio near 70/30 just to be on the rim. When it erupted I would change it to about 90/10. Being in the crater while it's erupting I would put the chance of survival at about 5% or less.
@@the-trustees Haha, true story. Although, I think this particular statistic was pulled directly from a bull's ass... considering it looks and smells exactly like bullshit.
If the story told is in fact accurate (and I have no reason to believe it is not) then Williams is in fact fully to blame in this event. The fact that he not only does not to this day take responsibility but even profited off of the disaster really shows the level of his narcissism and ego. That's nuts
Excellent documentary, thanks so much! It was fascinating. I’ve been to Pasto a couple of times and I love Colombia, so i thoroughly enjoyed the scenes of the spectacular landscape of Nariño. When I was there I took a bus up as far as I could to a neighborhood on the side of the volcano to see more of it. Couldn’t really see much but the views of pasto were great. Your documentary is just what I needed. One little pet peeve - in the beginning, “Columbia” appears on the screen. No big deal. Liked and subscribed.
That was a scary story and you did an great job narrating it. Your voice was just right and usually I find music in videos so distracting but your use of music was so good it just blended into the video and didn't cover up your narration. Excellent job on the video.💖
Williams was head injured. That frequently results in personality changes including impulsiveness and emotional lability. He is right when he says he is a different man.
Ahhhhh!!! I'm from there!!! That's my city! One of the eruptions you showed (on minute 5:05) is from... I guess 2008, when it last erupted. I freaked out so badly that day lol I freaked out worse when the national news where already giving death estimates if the Galeras really went all out, and the Red Cross' regional office got corpse bags that week. There was a big controversy because of that; Pastusos felt (not without reason) that the Colombian government didn't care about our fates. The volcano's original (indigenous) name is Urkunina, or mountain of fire. And the main issue is that people keeps building closer and closer to the volcano. Pasto is like 6 or 8km to the summit, so closeness is already an issue, but damnit. One of my uncles lives close enough to the summit that he can tell whenever an earthquake is related to the Urkunina or not by sound. Thank you so much for talking about this; this incident is mostly forgotten in Colombia, and not much other than what happened with Williams (and the deaths obviously) is really talked about. This is the first time I see a video from anyone speaking about the Urkunina at all, either in Spanish or English, and it's amazing the amount of information you got in this video. It was a treat! Thank you, thank you so much.
@@slyguythreeonetwonine3172 So you're saying that I shouldn't consider the Earth as Mother Nature, just because it's a ball of rock and water circling the Sun? Why does that matter to you? And for your information, I AM NOT stupid, just because I used a colloquialism. I am a college educated person, and I do not take kindly to insults, no matter how slight.
what are the odds that at the instant the reporter asks ‘when do you think it’ll erupt again?’, then it erupts. That’s like a knock on wood moment where you don’t even say it, also the guy that mocked someone for wearing safety gear, not to be superstitious but that can only bring about some bad juju saying things like that out loud
You lost me at, “roasted guinea pig.” Lol. I much prefer grilled gerbil, clearly. Oh man, volcanos absolutely fascinate me. With our proximity to Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Saint Helens, we’re always watching and discussing activity. I think it’s incredibly interesting. You really have yet to do a video/story that doesn’t absolutely hold my interest. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you chose to create this channel. You really do a fantastic job. You provide great content and are just a phenomenal human being. I always appreciate you, my friend!
Guinea pigs have been raised for food a long time in the Andes. It makes a dish "cuy" considered a delicacy. "Guinea pig meat is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, and is described as being similar to rabbit and the dark meat of chicken."
I had opportunity to hike across the open mouth of Mt St Helens in 1994 as part of a documentary on the eruption. I can tell you I was concerned the entire time, aware that even a small burp by the mountain could release a pyroclastic flow that would incinerate me in moments. We are small, fragile creatures in God’s big universe.
Thank you for the video. I have spent my life as a research scientist. Some bosses have been caring decent individuals. Others, ….not. As a friend put it, think, plan and pray before entering a dangerous situation or position. And do not take any stupid pills! Thanks, again.
While Stanley Williams was a smart man he was also a gigantic idiot. His failure to take note of Bernard Schuet (prob spelled wrong)'s long period event theory sealed the doom of everyone who did not survive the trip. There were b type events (harmonic tremors) the morning of the trip.
not the ones that go against scientific consensus anyways. While I am all for challenging consensus with actual research and evidence, this story is about a man who put far too much of his ego into thinking he knew more than everyone else - who ignored all evidence, even of people who'd been studying volcanoes as long as he had or longer, because he knew more. So, while I think there are other examples of a person going against scientific consensus and being right, I think this is an example of that just because you can find one scientist willing to go against consensus does not mean you should assume it is always consensus that is in the wrong. Sometimes, when academic/scientific consensus of all evidence to date is that that volcano is going to blow, the Rambo scientist willing to question them is not brave, but stupid.
70% of scientific research is funded by private sources. Less than 5% show a negative result toward the products(s) they are researching. 0% of these studies have real consequences for their methods or results. “Trust the science”? No thank you.
We have an active Volcano that is a national park back in Central America, Nicaragua to be exact. I've been there a few times, and it was scary AF. You can actually walk right up to the crater and can see LAVA sometimes. So, I've been close to an active Volcano, but not inside it 😮
Patricia Ann Mothes and Marta Lucía Calvache, let's recognize the heroes that day. should have included their photos. They undoubtedly saved lives that day.
Yeah I understand them not wearing hard hats back in 93. Everybody was just too cool to wear those kind of things. It was kind of a tough guy mentality that we had back then. The 80s and 70s was like that too I remember being in high school and not wearing a coat when I went outside sometimes. I was in North Dakota in the winter. It's ridiculously cold there. Don't ever be too cool or too tough to wear protection and to prepare for things.
Interestingly a few hours ago I was listening to the latest Casefile episode, which is about the murder of Half and Susanne Zantop in 2001. They were Dartmouth professors, and Half was a geologist who apparently had some beef with Stanley Williams (or, rather, Williams had beef with Zantop because he wanted the position Zantop got at Dartmouth). Williams was in town at the time of the murder and was briefly a person of interest, in part due to his erratic behavior due to the traumatic brain injury he sustained in this event, though he was quickly cleared. Very funny to be listening to this OD episode and then be like "hey...wait a second..." 😂 Anyway, what a mess this was, for the people there and for the rescue crews. Williams was certainly negligent at the least, though all the volcanologists really should have known better.
@@outdoordisasters The other channel that KitKat referenced - Casefile Presents - is an excellent true crime podcast from Australia. I've listened to almost all of their episodes and have been enthralled every time by their first class production and storytelling. 👍
The Galeras disaster is this same kind of disaster when people went down into an active volcano on White Island/NZ. The only difference is, that on White Island these were unaware tourists who had no knowledge about volcanoes at all. Just booking into a "nice opportunity for an once in a lifetime visit".They became victims of greedy tour companies who put money above life. At Galeras those where experienced and fully volcano educated scientists who ignored the warnings signs against their better knowledge. Call this stupid or overly self confident. Finally both have not only put their own lives at risk, but those of the people who came to their rescue! Iceland has a strict rule: You don't walk out onto fresh lava! If you do so though and you break thru the surface- we won't send anybody to your rescue! We will not put additional lives at risk due to your own stupidity! It's hard but definitely clear to all these people, who think they know better and can ignore warnings and restrictions.
I appreciate you watching. I highly recommend getting out and enjoying this beautiful Earth we have. If anything, I want these videos to inspire people to get out, but do it safely and learn from these stories. But if the couch is your happy place, I'm happy to take you on the journey to these realms. Cheers!
I remember when this story broke. Volcanologists had not be too bright with common sense as there were others that were caught up in other eruptions before that, but a large group from a conference? A lot of us were thinking more of a Darwin award until the details came out later. As someone mentioned earlier, the Stockton Rush of yesteryear.
As the leader of the group, it was Williams' responsibility to ensure all safety precautions were taken. Did the others ignore the warnings following the lead of Williams or hubris on their own part?
Complacency is a killer. Text written by an OSHA Safety supervisor. This is just another of thousands of accidents or incidents thet happen every day by being complacent.
From my home in Mexico, I can see 2 volcanoes....one is active and the other is dormant. I would NEVER hike up Popocapetl but Malinche is safe and we picnic on it.
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Hey man, I appreciate you covering such an obscure story in vulcanology
I from Pasto and I lived both 2005 and 2008 eruptions. It was mesmerizing and scary to see the whole city covered in ash, and in 2008 we heard a loud boom and everything shook for a moment, as if a big firecracker exploded right outside our home. We went out to see what happened and we saw the lava spewing out in the middle of the night.
Adding to the story, just as a curious sidenote, its name given by the indians here is "Urkunina", which translates to "fire mountain", and there's a fair bit of superstition around the volcano, with many believing human presence can "anger it", and attributing sudden, dense mist when climbing it to some people disrespecting the volcano.
Still, in local folklore it's considered sort of a guardian of the people livingg around it, and several populations refuse to leave since the land is rich, fertile, and the weather quite pleasant in many spots. It's a shame tours have been prohibited indefinitely for over a decade now, but many folks still manage to climb it anyways every once in a while.
Anyways, I digress, thanks for your video, I enjoyed it a lot.
"If you happen to find yourself in a volcano" - for once I can say with absolute certainty this type of outdoor disaster will not apply to me
😂😂😂
Yeah me too. Never ever
It's not neccesarily too dangerous depending on the kind of volcano and it's current level of activity. Plenty of people live inside large volcanic craters called calderas. However completely ignoring warning signs and not wearing safety gear is really Darwin Award level, especially lulling others into a false sense of security and shaming them for being actually safety-conscious.
I will not find myself inside a volcano, nor will I be trapped in an underwater cave when I’m diving.
Unfortunately, some people put all their trust in scientists and other "experts", rather than listening to their guts and the reasons they shouldn't do things like this. The eruption of White Island sticks in my head.
The fact that he made fun of the ones who took safety precautions tells me everything I need to know about him. How disgusting!
They were all grown men and experts who knew the risks and they lost… it’s a shame but its all on them not just one fool but each and every one of them.
Just another example of the ridiculous notion that 'bad things dont happen to me, they happen to other people'. Main Character Syndrome strikes again.
100% true. I've climbed two active volcanoes. I was amazed how people just didn't take the park service's advice seriously. If someone laughed at me for being safety conscious, I'd laugh at them.
Damn, what was the point of your racism? @@alanmontoya7162
His arrogance and stubbornness reminds me of that OceanGate guy Stockton Rush.
There's another part to this story.
That tremor that they referred to as the screw was harmonic tremor. Think of the vibration of pulling a wooden chest along a floor, it is that sort of vibration, it is magma moving. It is very different from the tremors caused by tectonic earthquakes and it precedes the quakes that happen in the minutes before an eruption.
The day before at the conference another scientist gave a presentation on his research that indicated that harmonic tremor showed that an eruption was imminent. Williams and some others wouldn't accept that. (It is a common issue that people want to think their research is what counts.) The other scientist told them not to go up to the volcano the next day, he said it was fire too dangerous and an eruption should be happening very soon. He went home later that day. Williams ignored the warnings and the research, that is why people died that day.
Do you mean surface tremor?
@@CoMorbiditty You can get surface tremors that aren't harmonic tremor and magma might be quite far down, although the frequency changes as it nears the surface due to the pressure changes affecting the size of gas bubbles.
@@CoMorbiditty Go to Google maps and search for Earthquakes and Seismo stations around the Reykjanes Peninsula. Then click on the seismo for Grindavik and select the drumplot. Harmonic tremor is seen as the wider lines.
Thank you for including your additional knowledge here. It's all so fascinating. When I was a youngster I really wanted to be a volcanologist. I lived in Southern Oregon when St Helens blew. We were glad the wind was blowing East. I'm 65 now, so not much chance of climbing the mountains. But I still gravitate to the stories & documentaries.
I saw a documentary about that other scientist you mentioned, or rather it was about his theory, and about predicting volcanic eruptions. Really interesting stuff and it was a great documentary. I'm guessing that's where you got your information from?
I read the book “No Apparent Danger” many years ago. (Even included it one a “My Recommendations” list on Amazon way back when😊.) The young women scientists were true heroes. It is so awful that Williams did not insist on safety equipment and preparation. It’s beyond the pale. He does bear much responsibility for the tragedy.
Those women, my God, they were badasses.
@@outdoordisasters I wonder if Williams ever thanked or even acknowledged them?
@@anthonyalles1833 I doubt his ego would allow it.
there weren't any standard requirement. plus going up a mountain with heavy gear would just be taxing. sure in hindsight we can say they should have done this or that but at the time there wasn't a consensus regarding safety. it's down to the individual if they wanted to protect themselves. going through wiki, it seems after this incident volcanologist are more aware of the danger and are encouraged to wear hard hat and fireproof attire. as for the "prediction" of volcano eruption we can't do that, that's why they're researching volcanos still. the "prediction" was just one printout of a specific type of earthquake that preceded eruption. But it also appear with non eruptive events too (according to wiki).
@@takumi2023 In the last 50ish years, our ability to predict volcanic eruptions has actually grown by leaps and bounds. It's been a very exciting time for volcanologists. And this disaster was a key step in that development. While it's not a perfect warning signal, the seismic signals seen prior to this eruption would today be grounds to bar anyone from going into the crater of a volcano they'd been heard from. William's didn't help his reputation amongst his fellow volcanologists by his behavior and comments after the incident (e.g. claiming to be the only survivor), but even the more generous interpretations of his decision to lead others into the volcano really only take that choice from outright negligently homicidal to merely alarmingly reckless.
Today more often than not we can predict when volcano's are entering a more active phase, the big next steps people are working on are reliably predicting exactly when that active phase might peak, and how big any eruptions will be.
Heroines reveal themselves when their moment comes. Clearly the two women had the courage and determination that was required. I am so glad they survived without serious injury.
These scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could go into the volcano that they didn’t stop to think if they should.
Absolutely. I see we have a Jurassic Park fan here as well!
@@outdoordisasters Lives might have been saved if they had thought to bring Dr. Ian Malcolm along.
And bragging rights unfortunately, scientist can also be very competitive.
@@tomcook5813 I wonder how many of them had not been 'on site' before, only worked in labs?
On a normal day, venturing into the crater isn't too dangerous, but carrying gas masks and wearing hard-hats is generally recommended. But doing so when the seismographs are going crazy and just dismissing that danger is beyond stupid.
There were two genuine heroes in this story, or should I say heroines: Marta and Patty, and yet they are neither pictured nor mentioned in the summation of the story. I hope that somewhere in his writings and talks about this horrific misadventure Williams acknowledges the two women and their bravery. Williams seems a man brimming with hubris. If he feels no guilt whatsoever, it is likely because apparently he is a major narcissist.
I agree!!!!!
My thoughts exactly
Yeah where's the book applauding their bravery???
I agree, he must be a narcissist. Feels no guilt. 🤨🙄
💯 - you hit the nail on the head.
Exactly. I have immense respect for the two ladies! - And it should also be pointed out that Marta didn't think it was safe to go, so Williams dismissing the danger only further confirms his irresponsibility.
I wonder if the four tourists may have decided to go there because they knew about the scientists' trip and thought that if these experts were going, it had to be safe...
As leader, Williams certainly carries the most blame. For not listening to the warnings not to go. For not making sure every1 were properly equipped. For not listening to the warning while up there, that they needed to leave, instead telling ppl to take their time.
That said, every1 chose to go up there. They were volcanologists, they knew the risks. They chose to go anyway, and they chose to go without proper equipment. They too chose to ignore all warnings, both b4 and during the expedition. Giving Williams all the blame is the easy, simple way, but they all had responsibility for themselves.
Lets remember, there were more ppl than the expedition up there. There was the tv crew, who got really lucky, coz they survived, and then they friggin stayed to film it all instead of going off to safety. And instead of helping grieviously wounded ppl. But if I am to blame any1, its whomever took those tourists up there. Volcanologists know the risks, tourists do not.
Those tourist knew they were going to an active volcano, and those stupid people and guides paid the price. As the Led Zepplin song goes It's nobody's fault, but mine. 🫢
That's really harsh! Williams was horribly injured and others died. Unless you were there, criticism is just as arrogant as those people that predicted the eruption times. Cast the first stone.
@@davidmurray6176 They take tours of the volcanos of Hawaii often (or at least they used to). When I was little I thought all volcanic fields were like the videos of Hawaii and you could pay for a tour. Now I know that those Hawaiian tours have marked paths that take you through "safe" older flows, but that is not what the tourism videos made it look like. I can understand the tourists thinking a tour guide knew what they were doing in taking them to the top but I would never have climbed down a rope into the cone.
@@davidmurray6176 telling people they're going to an active volcano and they're going to a volcano that could massively explode at any time are completely different scenarios
I read that people often hiked to the summit of Galeras, although not into the crater. Not sure why the 3 tourists ventured in there that day, but they were locals: a teacher, his son and the son’s friend. I think it’d be overstating to say they were fully aware of the danger, but living in the shadow of Galeras (and less than 10 years out from the catastrophic Nevada del Ruiz eruption), they couldn’t fool themselves that it was an entirely safe jaunt.
You know why hardhats are required at construction sites, regardless of what you're doing or what's going on? It saves lives. Not a chance they shouldn't have had hats, mask, and planned escape, at minimum. Williams definitely should have taken some responsibility, I believe.
He should have felt at least a LITTLE guilty. He seemed to have little to no remorse and straight-up lied in a book from which he profited. He really is a piece of work.
Narcissist 💩🤡
Deep down inside I’m sure he is miserable and knows he bears a great deal of the responsibility. He’s not ending life well. Not at all.
With a head injury like he sustained, I'm certain his brain has diminished capacity.
He has severe disabilities after his injuries, including depression. Several of the problems, he suffers after the injuries, are also common symptoms of brain damage, especially frontal lobe brain damage, which would also strongly effect his personality and his ability to feel remorse.
Im not excusing him, but it is an obvious explanation for his behavior in the years after.
Exactly. "The man that went into that volcano died...I'm not that person." Just more BS to try to distance himself from liability or responsibility for the tragedy. And did I hear right he still has a job at ASU? Obviously he's not that bad off.
If your narration is anywhere close to the truth, this is a classic example of hubris going before the fall. Instead of making them more cautious of a volcano's destructive capacity, their expertise made them more complacent. I'm thankful that the woman who knew better than to go on the expedition, but still risked herself to help rescue people, wasn't hurt.
"If you find yourself inside an erupting volcano, remain calm" LOL
LMFAO
Yep, that cracked me up!😂
IKR hahaha
After getting a number of those people killed, he STILL refuses to accept responsibility for leading a team up the volcano after being TOLD an eruption was imminent, he lead them into the crater, and dawdled when getting a report of seismic activity because he was cocksure he was right about his theories on how to predict an oncoming eruption. His ego and arrogance knows no bounds.
Sure, everyone knew there were risks, but he kept assuring everyone that there was no way the volcano could erupt; he gave everyone a false sense of relative safety and went so far as to mock the few who did show any safety awareness.
The only justice for the victims is that he is now physically and cognitively impaired for the rest of his life.
the university should have made him retire. he has no business teaching anyone
Too bad Williams' head injuries didn't bonk his arrogance out.
As a fellow American, I object to his characterization of us as addicted to risky adventures, then prone to sue over bad outcomes. Each charge fits some people, but both do not fit most people. Most of us avoid moronically dangerous situations, and most do not pursue fame or money in the courts when we're our own victims.
Maybe the scientist should study his own life choices before he returns to poking apocalyptic planetary monsters with his stick.
Yessir. 😂
A story I never heard of. Those poor men & what they suffered. Those two brave women that wouldn't give up hope. Amazingly narrated, OD!!!!♡ Now, I wanna grab those two books.
It would be like a divorce case: he said/she said. Still Williams as the leader was responsible to ensure all safety precautions were taken.
No one believed David Johnson about Mt. St. Helen. He described exactly what would happen and totally ignored. Johnson had tried to get the red zone expanded and shaped differently. What if folks had listened
Mr Williams story was also featured in the national geographic documentary Volcano is one of my favorites and I highly recommend watching it
Please DON'T BUY the book written by the expedition leader. He should not make a penny off this story. See if you can find it in a library, through interlibrary loan, or, if you must buy a copy, buy a used copy. I have only contempt for that man for his unprofessional, wreckless behavior & flippant attitude toward the deaths & injuries suffered by others. ANY decent human being would feel some degree of guilt for his arrogance, mocking people for having safety equipment, telling people to "take their time" in the crater, etc. Maybe the others knew the risks they were taking but when you do this shit you also endanger the lives of people trying to rescue you. At least the 2 women who went to rescue them didn't die in the attempt, & neither did the men that joined them later. It's one thing to die because you are careless or stupid or overly confident, but to die because you are courageous & want to save others is a whole other degree of tragedy.
@@DonnaBrooks Thank you, Donna. Since learning of this preventable tragedy, I haven't purchased either book yet. I will do as you asked. I will look for a used or library book as far as the one written by the expedition leader. I've read articles regarding this incident & so many felt just like you do. Thank you for responding. ⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️
@@DonnaBrooks clearly you don’t understand the volcanolgy community our job is to understand what makes volcanoes work and save lives if you have seen an eruption in your lifetime or have a chance to experience one
This is some of the best script writing I’ve heard on UA-cam in a long while. Just riveting story and retelling of it. Kudos 👏🏻
Thank you very much!
@@outdoordisasters well it didn’t help to conclude by reading all those didactic do’s and don’ts. Seemed very silly.
The level of arrogance and complacency is frustrating at first.
That being said, the hard wired need to learn and discover is very admirable.
And the courage shown by the rest of the group really shows the bond they share.
What an incredible story!
One can almost feel the heat coming off the word, “pyroclastic”. 🌋
Well done, OD. ☕️
😢
⁰⁰0⁰⁰00⁰p
Of course William's is going to deny his recklessness. The alternative is to admit he was partly responsible for killing nine people. That's going to haunt him forever, as it should, even if he says differently. But, Marta and Patty saved his sorry a$$. He probably never even thanked them.
Its amazing how simple things like a hardhat might have changed the outcome. They were so intent on study to PREVENT and PREDICT danger that they totally overlooked the fact that they were IN danger! It does show that sometimes being a genious does NOT mean they have simple COMMON SENSE!!!
The courage and bravery of the two women is astonishing!
Agreed! I would've liked to hear more about Marta. Was she recognized for her heroism? And what did she think about Williams afterwards? 👀
@@olive_and_orchard I'm not 100% sure of her opinion of Williams, but she's gone on to have a really impressive career at the Colombian Geological Survey, including heading their geohazard team. Her most recent paper came out in 2020.
@MissJediMouse He was her graduate advisor, and there can be a lasting loyalty with that. Can be, anyway. I know if I heard that my old advisor was ... well ... trapped under a pile of spreadsheets?? 😅 ..I'd try to save him!
I have never heard this story before. Not only it was sad to hear their fate but you narrated so well I needed to finish hearing the full story on my way to work. Excellent job, looking forward to other fresh stories. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@bipolarmonkey77 you can also find this story on Volcano documentary on National Geographic Channel and its the very first story of the galeras tragedy
The background music was just right, not too loud to annoy. Able to hear speakers well. Well done!
Thank you for the feedback!
❤❤🎼🎼
“Vaporized to death.”
“Only if I die…”
“Yes, that’s what vaporized to death means.”
What the hell do you think you're talking about ? It would take something like 10,000 degrees F to "vaporize" a human body ! 1000 degrees F (temperature of average pyroclastic flow) won't get it done ! You would be "incinerated" (reduced to ash), but NOT vaporized.
@@ronanzann4851 Personally I love it when assholes like you - DONT GET THE JOKE - and try to impress everyone with your ‘knowledge”. Dude, you know you just made yourself look like a complete asshole with that statement, right? Go back to being anonymous, boy.
Marvel reference😎
Isn't "death" redundant when "vaporised" is in force?
@@ronanzann4851..Does it really matter if you're vaporized or ashes?
Appreciate that you close with safety precautions!!! 👏👏
As a person who has been to a few active volcano's with volcanologist and having actually seen Pyroclastic-flows fairly close, I remember once asking a team member how dangerous a particular "mission" was... Oh it's safe he said, only about a 20% chance of dying... still not sure whether he was joking or not.
I’m a bit of a geology and volcanology nerd so I’m thrilled to see this video.
@@RightsForZombies great minds think alike and I studied volcanoes for 33years
Nylon ropes melt at 400-450 degrees F. They are relatively slippery to grasp, even with intact palms and fingers. That safety line, as with so much else, was minimal. Gladly it was present…
Dr. Williams may not have learned much; hubris being hard to burn away.
You’re right. That man should have been fired. He is still an arrogant asshole. You can tell by the cocky smirk on his face in the photo.
How can people be so smart, educated, and be so stupid?
Narcissism and that higher education leads them to believe they always know what’s best and that they are each themselves the smartest person in the room sadly. It’s far more tragic when they lead others to such a fate.
Just look at the people all living in the danger zone.
Since this incident, it has become a little easier to predict the kind of "burp" that caused this incident. At the time, there was no certainty on when the next burp was going to happen. And of course, there are only some general rules that can be transfered between individual volcanoes.
I don't know, but apparently smart people are not smart about everything.
There has been a kind of daredevil craze, much like the craze to summit Everest, to climb to the summits of the most famous of deadly volcanos like Anak Krakatau, especially, if an eruption could happen. It shows the reckless disregard for nature's power that some people have.
The story wasn’t uplifting but what a voice and a talent that narrator have I could listen to him talk all day, truly talented man.
Appreciate the kind words!
@@outdoordisastersI have a question. You talk about what was going through these peoples minds and how exactly they saw each other died and how they interpreted things as they happened.
But some of the people you are speaking about didn't survive. And at one point you describe three men dying in very specific ways in a very specific order. Like being hot by a rock, then getting up and getting hit again. And what the person who saw him die was thinking just before he got hit in the head and was killed.
How do you know these things when the people you describe died with no other witnesses?
@@christopherleveck6835 This sort of invention, without explaining it's invention, is what made me jaded about Mr Ballen too. Say "I imagine" and it's fine. It's really, really not fine without it.
@@christopherleveck6835 it is called fictional portrayal or dramatization. The author/narrator took actual events and built out the story, rather than only talking about the survivors. That doesn't make the story is untrue, just adds to it.
@@christopherleveck6835 It’s a topic of much contention in story telling. When it comes to real life events, especially ones where people lost their lives, a journalistic approach is usually taken. This means only facts are conveyed: you don’t talk about anything that isn’t directly supported with evidence, writings, or recordings. This is professional and largely considered the standard.
Dramatization is the idea that you present the facts when it’s convenient, but the goal is to tell an interesting story above all else. This is largely frowned upon when lives are lost. The basic thinking is to write as if the families and survivors will be reading/watching, therefore you don’t want to insult them by implying a person did something in a certain way without proof. Legally, there’s a case that misrepresentation could result in a lawsuit too, so sticking to known facts is usually best practice.
Situations like this, where real events are told dramatically and liberties are taken with the “facts,” are usually only found these days in UA-cam videos. Unsolved Mysteries was a show that tended to do this a lot, and they’re one reason the practice is seen as sort of tabloid-y. But UA-camrs do this because they’re not professionals. No disrespect, but most are amateurs who really don’t know anything about journalism or standard practices when it comes to covering real world events. They have a platform where they can reach millions of people, yet they don’t see themselves as being responsible for anyone or anything. They have no sense of duty or responsibility. Even though that’s precisely why the elements of journalism were drafted. As everyone’s favorite uncle once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
It doesn’t matter that UA-camrs SAY they’re just telling stories, or that they never claimed to be professionals. What matters is they have an enormous platform, a huge audience, and thus, power. Which means they have a responsibility, whether they like it or not. They must portray events as they happened, as supported by evidence, as if the survivors and families were their only audience, and stop dramatizing and adding little details and flair that can’t be supported just because they want to tell “a fun story.”
Sorry I went off on a tangent there, but as a journalist myself I take these things very seriously, and it’s sad to me that so many content creators don’t know and don’t care about the rules that govern the medium of non-fiction story telling. They exist for a reason; drafted through the centuries by professionals who learned their lessons the hard way; imparted through the generations to make presentation of the truth an honest and compelling exercise for anyone and everyone. But no, “rules are meant to be broken,” and all that.
Hope that helps!
I have heard the story recently elsewhere but I am more than glad that I listened a second time, or else I wouldn't have learned about the two immensely brave and determined ladies. Thanks for not ommitting their role!
Those two were amazing.
Good morning JR,
This had me riveted and on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was cringing as you were describing the injuries and fatalities that happened in the crater of Galeras. I'm glad that Williams and the three others made it out and survived but sad the others passed away. May the men who passed away rest in peace 🙏🕊️ have a great Sunday and start to a good week ahead!
“ we took risk
We knew we took them
Things have come out against us
Therefore, we have no calls for complaint “
Scott
Happy Outdoor Sunday from Penang, Malaysia!
Thank you. It is a lovely Sunday afternoon here on the other side of the world
Happy Sunday from penang too 👋🏻
@@RinnieButterfly wow, cool! It's a beautiful day here indeed!
Ppl that study these earthly calamities absolutely amaze me. I was never interested in volcanoes, earthquakes, large storms till I was older & Mt st Helen erupted in the 80s, my GG Mother & G mother lived in Tocamo Washington when it erupted. I spent 2 weeks their every summer, the eruption left 4 to 6 inches of ash all over my grand mother neighborhood, the mountain was literally blown in half. I still to this day have the canning jar of mt helen ash my G mother sent me. The power behind these types of disasters piqued my interest. Nice job on documentary thx😊
My favorite book in my elementary library was All About Volcanoes and Earthquakes.
Totaly reckless bunch of guys;
incredibly brave pair of women!!
I had not heard of this tragedy. I can only sit here and shake my head at the senselessness of it all. RIP to those who lost their lives.
❤❤
@@barbiek3987 this eruption happened in the 90s and galeras is still Active today
[19:47] "McFarlane understood that people caught in a volcanic explosion have a 50% chance of survival."
Wait, what? That's the most ridiculous and obviously nonsensical statistic I've ever heard.
thank you I was looking for someone else who caught that lol. Far too broad of a statement, there are so many variables that impact survival chances, i have no idea where that stat would have come from 😭
😂😂😂
"Aim for the bushes"
It means with you either live or you die. There is no middle ground. That being said. Knowing there was volcanic unrest I would have put the ratio near 70/30 just to be on the rim. When it erupted I would change it to about 90/10. Being in the crater while it's erupting I would put the chance of survival at about 5% or less.
95% of statistics are pulled directly put of a person's ass. 😂
@@the-trustees Haha, true story. Although, I think this particular statistic was pulled directly from a bull's ass... considering it looks and smells exactly like bullshit.
Happy Outdoor Sunday, Crags, South Africa!
If the story told is in fact accurate (and I have no reason to believe it is not) then Williams is in fact fully to blame in this event. The fact that he not only does not to this day take responsibility but even profited off of the disaster really shows the level of his narcissism and ego. That's nuts
@@andersonbuchanan4503 I can confirm this story is true
I love your videos! Your descriptions put me right in the middle of it all. Truly a gifted storyteller! Happy Outdoor Sunday!😊
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Another good episode but sad. Watching from Vancouver Wa, USA
Famous last words: "Don't worry, it's safe"
Goes along with "Hold my beer for a moment, will you?".
Excellent documentary, thanks so much! It was fascinating. I’ve been to Pasto a couple of times and I love Colombia, so i thoroughly enjoyed the scenes of the spectacular landscape of Nariño. When I was there I took a bus up as far as I could to a neighborhood on the side of the volcano to see more of it. Couldn’t really see much but the views of pasto were great. Your documentary is just what I needed. One little pet peeve - in the beginning, “Columbia” appears on the screen. No big deal. Liked and subscribed.
"If you find yourself in the crater of a vulcano during an eruption, stay calm" is great advice...
I try lol
@@outdoordisasters it’s pretty lame.
There are old geologists, there are bold geologists, there are very few old, bold geologists.
That was a scary story and you did an great job narrating it. Your voice was just right and usually I find music in videos so distracting but your use of music was so good it just blended into the video and didn't cover up your narration. Excellent job on the video.💖
Williams was head injured. That frequently results in personality changes including impulsiveness and emotional lability. He is right when he says he is a different man.
I don't know, sounds like he was always an arrogant jerk.
Yes, worse than he was before!!
Who needs Hollywood disasters 'based on real events' when we have your factual tone telling us what really happened. Thank you.
What an asshole, they shouldve left him there.
"Help me!"
"Why? You knew the dangers and what you were getting into. So deal with it. Goodbye."
10:10 You know what else is a once in a lifetime experience? Sky diving naked. Jump from the plane wearing nothing at all, not even a parachute.
Happy outdoor Sunday, Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪
Me too🇮🇪 hello from dublin ❤❤
Thanks, JR. Have a great Sunday!
You too my friend!
Outdoor Sunday … Devon, England 👋🏻
YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD SPEAKING VOICE!MAKES STORIES INTERESTING AND SOMETIMES ENJOYABLE
Happy Outdoor Sunday, Kansas City, USA
Happy Outdoor Sunday, London, Ontario Canada
Same to you!
Ahhhhh!!! I'm from there!!! That's my city! One of the eruptions you showed (on minute 5:05) is from... I guess 2008, when it last erupted. I freaked out so badly that day lol
I freaked out worse when the national news where already giving death estimates if the Galeras really went all out, and the Red Cross' regional office got corpse bags that week. There was a big controversy because of that; Pastusos felt (not without reason) that the Colombian government didn't care about our fates.
The volcano's original (indigenous) name is Urkunina, or mountain of fire. And the main issue is that people keeps building closer and closer to the volcano. Pasto is like 6 or 8km to the summit, so closeness is already an issue, but damnit. One of my uncles lives close enough to the summit that he can tell whenever an earthquake is related to the Urkunina or not by sound.
Thank you so much for talking about this; this incident is mostly forgotten in Colombia, and not much other than what happened with Williams (and the deaths obviously) is really talked about. This is the first time I see a video from anyone speaking about the Urkunina at all, either in Spanish or English, and it's amazing the amount of information you got in this video. It was a treat!
Thank you, thank you so much.
Arrogance always leads to disaster. NEVER underestimate the power of Mother Nature. She is unforgiving in her wrath and fury.
Probably best not to personify a rock that orbits a nuclear ball of fire.
Makes stupid people think of it as a person and not, you know, a rock.
@@slyguythreeonetwonine3172 So you're saying that I shouldn't consider the Earth as Mother Nature, just because it's a ball of rock and water circling the Sun? Why does that matter to you? And for your information, I AM NOT stupid, just because I used a colloquialism. I am a college educated person, and I do not take kindly to insults, no matter how slight.
Great episode. I remember hearing about this event and even that there was a lone survivor. Crazy story
Outdoor....what a terrific video! Pls do more like these!❤!
what are the odds that at the instant the reporter asks ‘when do you think it’ll erupt again?’, then it erupts. That’s like a knock on wood moment where you don’t even say it, also the guy that mocked someone for wearing safety gear, not to be superstitious but that can only bring about some bad juju saying things like that out loud
And, ironically, he suffered a head injury.
This documentary is incredibly well done - elegantly scripted, perfectly narrated & well paced. Bravo good sirs, bravo
You lost me at, “roasted guinea pig.” Lol. I much prefer grilled gerbil, clearly.
Oh man, volcanos absolutely fascinate me. With our proximity to Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Saint Helens, we’re always watching and discussing activity. I think it’s incredibly interesting. You really have yet to do a video/story that doesn’t absolutely hold my interest. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you chose to create this channel. You really do a fantastic job. You provide great content and are just a phenomenal human being. I always appreciate you, my friend!
I'm a fried hamster guy, myself 😁
Guinea pigs have been raised for food a long time in the Andes. It makes a dish "cuy" considered a delicacy.
"Guinea pig meat is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, and is described as being similar to rabbit and the dark meat of chicken."
Why do you think it's called guinea PIG?
Just rabbits with smaller ears and feet.
😂😂😂
Happy outdoor Sunday from Boise, Idaho😊
I had heard of this before and kind of remember the news coverage. Marta and her cohort deserve a movie for their effort
Glad to be alive. It is a beautiful sunday her in New Jersey
I had opportunity to hike across the open mouth of Mt St Helens in 1994 as part of a documentary on the eruption. I can tell you I was concerned the entire time, aware that even a small burp by the mountain could release a pyroclastic flow that would incinerate me in moments.
We are small, fragile creatures in God’s big universe.
Thank you for the video.
I have spent my life as a research scientist. Some bosses have been caring decent individuals. Others, ….not.
As a friend put it, think, plan and pray before entering a dangerous situation or position. And do not take any stupid pills!
Thanks, again.
Should have been charged with multiple negligent homicide
Happy outdoor Sunday, Tacoma, Washington 🌿
You are a wonderful narrator. I sincerely wish your channel ample success.
Hubris. The stuff of Greek myths, drama, and other tragic stories.
Happy outdoor Sunday from KwaZulu Natal , South Africa
The home of the Comrades Ultra marathon
The eruption during the opening credits of _Dante's Peak_ was supposedly based on the 1993 Galeras Disaster.
Awesome movie.
While Stanley Williams was a smart man he was also a gigantic idiot. His failure to take note of Bernard Schuet (prob spelled wrong)'s long period event theory sealed the doom of everyone who did not survive the trip. There were b type events (harmonic tremors) the morning of the trip.
Great narrating job AS ALWAYS! Never heard of this one until now. I cannot imagine being vaporized to death!😱
Thank you! At least you don't feel it I guess
Amazing that we are allowed to watch such graphic content in Australia.
Have you done the white island volcano in new Zealand?
This story gives insights on why scientists should not be taken at face value.
Exactly what I was thinking
not the ones that go against scientific consensus anyways. While I am all for challenging consensus with actual research and evidence, this story is about a man who put far too much of his ego into thinking he knew more than everyone else - who ignored all evidence, even of people who'd been studying volcanoes as long as he had or longer, because he knew more. So, while I think there are other examples of a person going against scientific consensus and being right, I think this is an example of that just because you can find one scientist willing to go against consensus does not mean you should assume it is always consensus that is in the wrong. Sometimes, when academic/scientific consensus of all evidence to date is that that volcano is going to blow, the Rambo scientist willing to question them is not brave, but stupid.
No one should be taken at face value.
70% of scientific research is funded by private sources. Less than 5% show a negative result toward the products(s) they are researching. 0% of these studies have real consequences for their methods or results. “Trust the science”? No thank you.
God does not believe in scientists.
Why is there footage of the White Island volcano eruption around 17:00?
Trying my best to show as close as possible what it may have looked like at Galeras
Happy Outdoor Sunday, from sunny Florida!
Sunny now. Tues starts a whole lot of volcanic quenching rains
We have an active Volcano that is a national park back in Central America, Nicaragua to be exact. I've been there a few times, and it was scary AF. You can actually walk right up to the crater and can see LAVA sometimes. So, I've been close to an active Volcano, but not inside it 😮
Don’t go again
Patricia Ann Mothes and Marta Lucía Calvache, let's recognize the heroes that day. should have included their photos. They undoubtedly saved lives that day.
OMG! Volcanoes are beautiful and certainly very interesting but I'll have to pass on being anywhere around them! Too scary!
Yeah I understand them not wearing hard hats back in 93. Everybody was just too cool to wear those kind of things. It was kind of a tough guy mentality that we had back then. The 80s and 70s was like that too I remember being in high school and not wearing a coat when I went outside sometimes. I was in North Dakota in the winter. It's ridiculously cold there.
Don't ever be too cool or too tough to wear protection and to prepare for things.
Interestingly a few hours ago I was listening to the latest Casefile episode, which is about the murder of Half and Susanne Zantop in 2001. They were Dartmouth professors, and Half was a geologist who apparently had some beef with Stanley Williams (or, rather, Williams had beef with Zantop because he wanted the position Zantop got at Dartmouth). Williams was in town at the time of the murder and was briefly a person of interest, in part due to his erratic behavior due to the traumatic brain injury he sustained in this event, though he was quickly cleared. Very funny to be listening to this OD episode and then be like "hey...wait a second..." 😂
Anyway, what a mess this was, for the people there and for the rescue crews. Williams was certainly negligent at the least, though all the volcanologists really should have known better.
Wow that's very interesting. I definitely gonna look into this story. Thanks for sharing!
@@outdoordisasters The other channel that KitKat referenced - Casefile Presents - is an excellent true crime podcast from Australia. I've listened to almost all of their episodes and have been enthralled every time by their first class production and storytelling. 👍
Never ask and never answer the question about when the volcano will errupt WHILE inside the volcano. That is errie.
It's the ultimate,
"Well, at least it isn't raining."
🤦♂️
That was actually a good story. I’m sure everyone involved learned a lot.
Martha and Patty are Hero’s!! What they did was Amazing…
Even though they were successful in treating all of Williams' injuries, there's no cure for being a total dick.
Bit late for this one but well worth the wait❤️❤️
Why did you post this video now? I'm going camping and hiking to an active volcano area this weekend !!!
Dagnammit !
The Galeras disaster is this same kind of disaster when people went down into an active volcano on White Island/NZ. The only difference is, that on White Island these were unaware tourists who had no knowledge about volcanoes at all. Just booking into a "nice opportunity for an once in a lifetime visit".They became victims of greedy tour companies who put money above life. At Galeras those where experienced and fully volcano educated scientists who ignored the warnings signs against their better knowledge. Call this stupid or overly self confident. Finally both have not only put their own lives at risk, but those of the people who came to their rescue! Iceland has a strict rule: You don't walk out onto fresh lava! If you do so though and you break thru the surface- we won't send anybody to your rescue! We will not put additional lives at risk due to your own stupidity! It's hard but definitely clear to all these people, who think they know better and can ignore warnings and restrictions.
What amazing footage!
After watching the Outdoor Disasters Channel, I’m quite happy with my decision to be a couch potato.
I appreciate you watching. I highly recommend getting out and enjoying this beautiful Earth we have. If anything, I want these videos to inspire people to get out, but do it safely and learn from these stories. But if the couch is your happy place, I'm happy to take you on the journey to these realms. Cheers!
@@outdoordisasters I’m 62 and have done enough exploring, all I have left is my dog, that’s all I need to be happy. I like this channel though.
I remember when this story broke. Volcanologists had not be too bright with common sense as there were others that were caught up in other eruptions before that, but a large group from a conference? A lot of us were thinking more of a Darwin award until the details came out later. As someone mentioned earlier, the Stockton Rush of yesteryear.
As the leader of the group, it was Williams' responsibility to ensure all safety precautions were taken.
Did the others ignore the warnings following the lead of Williams or hubris on their own part?
Complacency is a killer. Text written by an OSHA Safety supervisor. This is just another of thousands of accidents or incidents thet happen every day by being complacent.
From my home in Mexico, I can see 2 volcanoes....one is active and the other is dormant. I would NEVER hike up Popocapetl but Malinche is safe and we picnic on it.
Malinche? That's Cortez' lover my dude
People hike up Popo all the time. routinely..
@@robertunderwood1011 not me though..l don't wish to hike up an actively erupting volcano