This isn't really correct, the original image is always stored in the original place or the place you select to copy it too.
That's why I also think the title is a bit miss leading, cause it was never the Lightroom catalog that was the issue, it was the RAW-images them self.
This issue, according to what I have heard, had to do with the fire suppression system going off by misstake and the explosion that happened when the gas was going to be released caused the vibrations.
Really fun to see this on HN:s front page - I started using this last week to give some non technical people access to some queries I usually run for them. Works perfect so far!