Disasters

CenterPoint Energy says it will begin searching for gas pipe connections in the metropolitan area that could be like the one that caused an explosion that killed three people back in December. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Charles Kenow, administrator with the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety.

A natural gas explosion that killed three people last December was due to a metal pipe connector that failed because it was not designed for use on plastic pipe, state officials said Wednesday.

Part of the well known rock formation called the "Devil's Chair" has fallen down. The chair used to stand 30 feet tall along the St. Croix River, and was part of the official logo of the city of Taylors Falls. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Dan Raedeke, one of the owners of Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours.

On Sept. 1, 1894, one of the worst forest fires in U.S. history destroyed the Minnesota logging town of Hinckley. The cyclone of fire shot flames miles in the air, and killed more than 400 people. The Great American History Theatre tells the story in its new production, "Fireball."

A New York Times reporter offers a minute-by-minute account of the collapse of the World Trade Center.

Bioethicist and medical doctor Steven Miles spent the better part of a month working in disaster-stricken Indonesia. He was part of an effort to set up a permanent camp for 100,000 people. He'll talk about the ethical issues raised by responding to the devastating effects of the December 26 earthquake and tsunami.

The nations of the world, private individuals and organizations have pledged over $3 billion to rush relief to southern Asia's earthquake and tsunami victims. Now the challenge is turning those pledges into cash and that cash into humanitarian aid. What do officials need to do to help the estimated 500,000 plus people injured, 1 million homeless and 2 million left in need of food by the disaster? (Photo by Richard Freeland/DOD via Getty Images)

A week after the tsunami disaster in south Asia, relief workers say the response has finally turned a corner -- and now involves helping survivors rather than assessing damage. A Northfield, Minnesota, native who now works for the Twin Cities-based American Refugee Committee in Thailand spoke with MPR's William Wilcoxen.

Contact information for those wishing to contribute to agencies dealing with the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia.

The United Nations reports that the estimated number of people dying of hunger has gone up for the first time in nine years. One Twin Cities non-profit group is trying mightily to improve the situation.