Things went horribly wrong. It was a real mess. We tried to {compensate|handle the situation, but it was like trying to stop a flood with a spoon. We're still picking up the debris and feeling the blow of this unmitigated catastrophe.
situation Beyond Repair
This crisis has spiraled out of control. It's a total fiasco. We've tried anything to fix it, but nothing seems to be effective. At this point, it feels like we're doomed. Seriously. My {boss|friend|was absolutely furious. I tried to explain, but it was a hopeless situation.
The rest of the day was an absolute nightmare. Everything. I stay awake.
By the time I reached my destination, I was utterly defeated. This day, this terrible day will be forever remembered as the worst day ever.
Things Went From Bad to Absolutely Terrible
It all started out badly with a simple mishap/incident/screw-up. But then everything went from bad to absolutely terrible. A series/chain/cascade of unfortunate/awful/disastrous events unfolded/occurred/piled on top each other, leaving me feeling like I read more was in a nightmare/horror movie/comedy of errors. It's the kind of situation where you just want to throw your hands up.