Disaster is repeated following first couple of crashes (6)
I believe the answer is:
crisis
'disaster' is the definition.
(both can mean a terrible event)
'is repeated following first couple of crashes' is the wordplay.
'repeated' indicates the doubling of some letters.
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'first couple' becomes 'c' (rst letter of 'couple').
'of crashes' becomes 'r' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'is' doubled is 'isis'.
'c'+'r'='cr'
'isis' put after 'cr' is 'CRISIS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crisis that I've seen before include "Turning point in illness" , "Head" , "disaster" , "Decisive moment, turning point" , "time of distress" .)