1531day.year
The 6.4–7.1 Mw Lisbon earthquake kills about thirty thousand people.
A powerful earthquake strikes Lisbon in 1531, causing widespread devastation and killing around thirty thousand people.
On January 26, 1531, Lisbon was rocked by a catastrophic earthquake estimated between 6.4 and 7.1 in magnitude. The tremor devastated the city’s buildings, including churches and palaces, sending panicked residents into the streets. Tsunamis and aftershocks compounded the destruction, hampering rescue efforts. Contemporary accounts describe houses collapsing and fires breaking out, leading to tens of thousands of fatalities. Although precise casualty figures vary, historians estimate around thirty thousand lives were lost. The disaster prompted significant rebuilding and influenced seismic studies centuries later.
1531
Mw
Lisbon earthquake
1700day.year
The 8.7–9.2 Mw Cascadia earthquake takes place off the west coast of North America, as evidenced by Japanese records.
A massive magnitude 8.7–9.2 earthquake strikes the Cascadia Subduction Zone, its effects documented by Japanese coastal records.
In 1700, on January 26, a colossal earthquake estimated between 8.7 and 9.2 in magnitude occurred along the Cascadia Subduction Zone off North America’s Pacific Northwest. No written records exist locally, but tsunami waves crossed the Pacific and were recorded in Japan on the same date, linking the events. Geologists have since correlated sediment layers and tree-ring data in Oregon and Washington to date the quake. The disaster likely caused widespread coastal landslides and severe shaking that reshaped estuaries and shorelines. Modern investigations of ghost forests and submerged soils confirm drastic environmental impacts. This trans-Pacific seismic event underscores the connected nature of Earth’s tectonic systems and remains a focus for earthquake preparedness in the region.
1700
Mw
Cascadia earthquake
North America
1972day.year
JAT Flight 367 is destroyed by a terrorist bomb, killing 27 of the 28 people on board the DC-9. Flight attendant Vesna Vulović survives with critical injuries.
JAT Flight 367 was bombed mid-air in 1972, killing 27 of the 28 passengers; stewardess Vesna Vulović miraculously survived.
On January 26, 1972, JAT Yugoslav Airlines Flight 367 departed Stockholm for Belgrade with a stop in Copenhagen. A time-bomb exploded at cruising altitude over Czechoslovakia, causing the DC-9 to disintegrate. Remarkably, flight attendant Vesna Vulović was the sole survivor, falling over 10,000 meters still inside the aircraft's tail section. She sustained critical injuries but later recovered, earning a place in the Guinness World Records for surviving the highest fall without a parachute. Investigators attributed the attack to Croatian nationalist extremists, though no one was ever officially convicted. The tragedy highlighted vulnerabilities in aviation security and prompted changes in baggage screening procedures. Vesna Vulović's story remains one of astonishing survival against all odds.
1972
JAT Flight 367
DC-9
Vesna Vulović
1974day.year
Turkish Airlines Flight 301 crashes during takeoff from Izmir Cumaovası Airport (now İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport), killing 66 of the 73 people on board the Fokker F28 Fellowship.
Turkish Airlines Flight 301 crashed during takeoff from Izmir in 1974, killing 66 of 73 passengers aboard a Fokker F28.
On January 26, 1974, Turkish Airlines Flight 301 attempted to take off from Izmir Cumaovası Airport in poor weather conditions. The Fokker F28 Fellowship aircraft failed to climb properly and crashed into a field beyond the runway. Of the 73 people on board, including crew members, 66 lost their lives. Investigations pointed to a combination of pilot error and potential mechanical issues. The disaster remains one of Turkey's deadliest aviation accidents at the time, prompting reviews of aircraft maintenance and crew training protocols. Survivor accounts helped shape emergency response procedures in Turkish civil aviation. Memorials at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport honor those who perished, and the crash led to lasting safety improvements.
1974
Turkish Airlines Flight 301
İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport
Fokker F28 Fellowship
2001day.year
The 7.7 Mw Gujarat earthquake shakes Western India, leaving 13,805–20,023 dead and about 166,800 injured.
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck western India in 2001, causing widespread devastation and tens of thousands of casualties.
On January 26, 2001, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Kutch region of Gujarat in western India. The quake devastated cities and villages across the region, flattening buildings and infrastructure. It caused the deaths of between 13,805 and 20,023 people and left around 166,800 injured. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble, and over 400,000 homes were destroyed. Rescue and relief efforts were hampered by the scale of destruction and disrupted communications. International aid agencies responded with medical teams, supplies, and emergency shelter. The disaster prompted major improvements in India's seismic monitoring and building codes. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake remains one of the worst natural disasters in India's history.
2001
Mw
Gujarat earthquake
Western India
2015day.year
An aircraft crashes at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people and injuring 21 others.
An aircraft crashed at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, in 2015, killing 11 people and injuring 21 others.
On January 26, 2015, a CASA CN-212 Aviocar transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Los Llanos Air Base near Albacete, Spain. The crash claimed the lives of 11 military personnel and injured 21 more. Witnesses reported a fiery explosion and smoke plume rising from the impact site. Spanish authorities launched an immediate investigation into potential mechanical failure or pilot error. Emergency responders worked through the night to rescue survivors and recover victims. The tragedy prompted a review of safety protocols for military aviation in Spain. It remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country's recent history.
2015
crashes
Los Llanos Air Base
Albacete
2020day.year
A Sikorsky S-76B flying from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport crashes in Calabasas, 30 miles west of Los Angeles, killing all nine people on board, including five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant.
In 2020, a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, killed nine people on board, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
On January 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter crashed in foggy conditions near Calabasas, California, killing all nine people on board. Among the victims were basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The group was en route to a youth basketball tournament when the aircraft crashed into a hillside. The tragedy shocked fans worldwide and prompted extensive investigations into pilot decision-making and helicopter safety. The National Transportation Safety Board examined weather factors and pilot communications in its final report. Memorials and tributes poured in from across the sports community. Bryant's death had a profound impact on basketball culture and legacy.
2020
Sikorsky S-76B
John Wayne Airport
Camarillo Airport
crashes in Calabasas
Los Angeles
NBA
Kobe Bryant
Gianna Bryant