1393day.year
King Charles VI of France was nearly killed when several other dancers' costumes caught fire during a masquerade ball in Paris.
A torch mishap at a Paris masquerade ball ignites dancers' costumes, nearly claiming the life of King Charles VI.
In 1393, King Charles VI hosted an elaborate masquerade in Paris, complete with torches and pyrotechnics.
A misplaced torch caught the flammable costumes of several attendees alight, causing panic in the ballroom.
Amid the chaos, the king himself narrowly escaped serious injury thanks to his attendants.
The incident exposed the hazards of medieval court entertainments and reliance on open flames.
It also foreshadowed the struggles of Charles VI, whose later bouts of madness would shape France's future.
1393
King Charles VI of France
several other dancers' costumes caught fire
masquerade ball
1922day.year
Knickerbocker Storm: Washington, D.C.'s biggest snowfall, causes a disaster when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapses, killing over 100 people.
The Knickerbocker Storm of 1922 smothers Washington, D.C., in snow, toppling a theater roof and killing over 100.
In late January 1922, the Knickerbocker Storm unleashed the heaviest snowfall in Washington, D.C.’s recorded history. Over 25 inches of snow accumulated, ultimately causing the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre to collapse during a packed evening performance. The disaster claimed the lives of more than 100 audience members and injured many others. In the aftermath, investigations led to significant changes in building codes and snow removal protocols. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest weather-related events in the capital’s history and serves as a cautionary tale about structural safety under extreme conditions.
1922
Knickerbocker Storm
Knickerbocker Theatre
1977day.year
The first day of the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, which dumps 3 metres (10 ft) of snow in one day in Upstate New York. Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, and surrounding areas are most affected.
The Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 struck Upstate New York, dumping up to three metres of snow and paralyzing cities like Buffalo, Syracuse, and Watertown.
On January 28, 1977, a severe winter storm known as the Great Lakes Blizzard swept across Upstate New York, depositing up to 3 metres of snow in a single day.
Record-breaking snowfall, combined with hurricane-force winds, created drifts that buried cars and buildings across Buffalo, Syracuse, and Watertown.
Rail and road transportation ground to a halt as snowplows struggled to clear highways under blizzard conditions.
Hundreds of motorists became stranded, and state of emergency declarations led to National Guard deployments for rescue and relief efforts.
Economic and social disruption lasted days as communities worked to restore power and reopen major routes.
The blizzard's intensity and rapid accumulation have made it one of the most memorable and devastating snowstorms in Great Lakes history.
1977
Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977
Upstate New York
Buffalo
Syracuse
Watertown
1980day.year
USCGC Blackthorn collides with the tanker Capricorn while leaving Tampa, Florida and capsizes, killing 23 Coast Guard crewmembers.
US Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn collided with the tanker Capricorn near Tampa Bay, capsizing and killing 23 crew members.
On January 28, 1980, USCGC Blackthorn, a Coast Guard cutter, collided with the tanker Capricorn while departing Tampa, Florida, in heavy maritime traffic.
The impact caused Blackthorn to capsize, trapping crew below decks in the frigid waters of the bay.
Rescue efforts saved several sailors, but 23 Coast Guard members lost their lives in the accident.
Investigations cited miscommunication and navigational errors as contributing factors.
The tragedy led to revised safety protocols and training improvements within the Coast Guard to prevent similar disasters.
1980
USCGC Blackthorn
Tampa, Florida
1984day.year
Tropical Storm Domoina makes landfall in southern Mozambique, eventually causing 214 deaths and some of the most severe flooding so far recorded in the region.
Tropical Storm Domoina made landfall in Mozambique, causing catastrophic flooding and claiming over 200 lives.
On January 28, 1984, Tropical Storm Domoina struck southern Mozambique with torrential rains and sustained winds.
The storm triggered widespread flooding, breaching riverbanks and submerging rural and urban areas.
More than 214 people lost their lives as homes were washed away and vital infrastructure collapsed.
Emergency response teams faced challenges reaching isolated communities due to washed-out roads and damaged bridges.
Domoina's severe impact prompted improvements in regional flood forecasting and disaster preparedness in southern Africa.
1984
Tropical Storm Domoina
Mozambique
1986day.year
Space Shuttle program: STS-51-L mission: Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board.
Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
On January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51-L) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, shocking the world.
A failure in an O-ring seal on the right solid rocket booster allowed hot gases to breach the external fuel tank.
The resulting explosion killed all seven crew members, including Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher selected for spaceflight.
NASA suspended shuttle missions for nearly three years while an in-depth investigation led by the Rogers Commission examined safety lapses.
The disaster prompted major redesigns of shuttle components and a renewed emphasis on risk management in space exploration.
1986
Space Shuttle program
STS-51-L
Space Shuttle Challenger
disintegrates after liftoff
2002day.year
TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100, crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia, killing 94.
TAME Flight 120 crashed into the Andes in Colombia, killing 94 passengers when it descended too low in poor visibility.
On January 28, 2002, TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100 en route to Pasto, Colombia, crashed into a mountainside in the Andes.
The flight encountered heavy fog and challenging terrain as it approached runway 20 in southern Colombia.
Investigations attributed the accident to pilot error and inadequate navigation aids in the region.
All 94 people aboard, including passengers and crew, perished in the impact near the town of Ipiales.
The tragedy prompted reviews of flight procedures in mountainous airports and improvements in onboard terrain awareness systems.
2002
TAME Flight 120
Boeing 727
Andes
Colombia
2006day.year
The roof of one of the buildings at the Katowice International Fair in Poland collapses due to the weight of snow, killing 65 and injuring more than 170 others.
On January 28, 2006, a heavy snowfall caused the roof of an exhibition hall at the Katowice International Fair in southern Poland to collapse, resulting in dozens of casualties.
On January 28, 2006, a heavy snowfall caused the roof of one of the exhibition halls at the Katowice International Fair in southern Poland to collapse under the weight of accumulated snow. The sudden failure overwhelmed the building’s structural capacity, trapping attendees beneath debris. Rescue teams and volunteers raced to free victims from the wreckage. In total, 65 people lost their lives and more than 170 were injured in the tragic accident. The disaster prompted a thorough investigation into local building codes and snow load standards. Authorities subsequently reviewed and strengthened regulations to better protect public spaces in regions prone to heavy snowfall.
2006
Katowice International Fair
collapses
2021day.year
A nitrogen leak at a poultry food processing facility in Gainesville, Georgia kills six and injures at least ten.
A pressurized nitrogen leak at a poultry processing plant in Gainesville, Georgia on January 28, 2021, resulted in six deaths and multiple injuries.
On January 28, 2021, a high-pressure nitrogen line ruptured at a poultry food processing facility in Gainesville, Georgia, releasing a massive cloud of inert gas. The rapid release of nitrogen displaced oxygen in the air, creating an asphyxiation hazard for workers nearby. Emergency responders arrived on the scene to find six employees deceased and at least ten others injured by the gas exposure. The incident raised critical questions about industrial safety protocols and the handling of compressed gases in food processing plants. Investigators examined maintenance logs and safety training records to determine how the leak occurred. The tragedy spurred calls for enhanced regulations and stricter oversight to prevent similar industrial accidents in the future.
2021
nitrogen leak
Gainesville, Georgia