1.1M views · Jan 10, 2017 · 8:24 · 2 HN recommenders · 4 mentions · discussed 2020–2026
A short documentary about the 1980 Lake Peigneur accident in Louisiana, where an oil rig drilled into a salt mine beneath the lake. The lake drained into the mine, creating a whirlpool that swallowed barges.
Why Hacker News points people here: Linked in salt mine and industrial accident threads as a fascinating, quick account with striking footage.
“Quick 8-minute documentary on it that I found interesting”HN comment, 2023
“still blows my mind”
Footage of a barge pulled into the whirlpool
I bet you know about that salt cavern that collapsed at Lake Peigneur[1]. There should be a documentary on youtube where you can see the footage, including a really big boat going "phoomph" into the whirlpool created by the bayou water filling in the cavern. Edit: here's one[2] [1] link [2] this video still blows my mind
“Quick 8-minute documentary on it that I found interesting”
Short documentary with footage of the accident
Also fascinating because we have video footage of it, and it’s as crazy as it sounds. Quick 8-minute documentary on it that I found interesting: this video
“Fascinating story”
Documentary of the Lake Peigneur drilling accident
Fascinating story, even more amazing nobody died when you realize barges were sucked down into it and the ocean water ran miles(?) inland to fill the void. Saw this documentary on TV a decade or so ago. this video
Reminds me of the Lake Peigneur disaster in 1980 in Louisiana when an oil drilling rig entered a salt mine located under the lake. link link this video
