Moments after hanging up the phone, Gerit Hardenberg heard a low rumbling sound that grew into an earth-shaking roar, only to fade into an eerie silence.
What he couldn’t hear was the unsettling pinging as rust flakes tore off weathered steel or the grinding screech of metal shifting slowly. He couldn’t see the workers clutching their ears, faces filled with terror, as the metal around them began to warp, turning an unnatural blue.
Then, with an explosive crash, the entire 2,000-ton mass plummeted into the river, sending a cloud of gas, dust, and twisted metal into the air. The shockwave rattled buildings nearby, with flying mud spattering homes. The impact and subsequent fire could be heard from miles away.
Survivors, disoriented and coated in mud and oil, fought their way out of the river, only to be met by the horrifying reality of the disaster. Among the chaos, they began the painful search for their mates. The tragedy claimed the lives of 35 men, who left behind families and loved ones, forever changing their lives.
As they gathered their strength, the sound of sirens approached. It was then that they began the grim task of comforting the injured and counting the dead.