tragedy; tragic event
Refers to a disastrous, often violent or heartbreaking event, such as a massacre, accident, or catastrophe. Stronger and more dramatic than 悲劇 (ひげき), which can also refer to a theatrical tragedy.
その惨劇は多くの犠牲者を出した。
That tragedy claimed many victims.
戦争の惨劇を二度と繰り返してはいけない。
We must never repeat the tragedy of war.
惨劇 refers to a tragic, often violent incident (like a massacre), while 惨状 describes the ruined scene resulting from any disaster.
惨劇 refers specifically to a bloody or violent incident, while 悲劇 can describe any sorrowful or ill-fated event, violent or not.
惨劇 usually refers to a bloody, violent tragedy like a murder, while 惨事 covers any tragic accident or disaster including natural ones.
Compound of 惨 (さん, 'miserable, wretched') and 劇 (げき, 'drama, play'), literally 'miserable drama'. The word likely originated as a translation of Western concepts of tragedy, but is now used for real-life catastrophic events.