1809day.year
London's Drury Lane Theatre burns to the ground, leaving its owner, Irish writer and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan, destitute.
In 1809, London's historic Drury Lane Theatre was destroyed by a fire, impoverishing its owner, Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
On 24 February 1809, a catastrophic fire swept through the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, reducing the landmark building to ashes.
Owned by Irish playwright and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the blaze destroyed the company's stage, scenery, and archives.
The financial loss left Sheridan deeply in debt and underscored the vulnerability of theatres to fire in the gaslight era.
The destroyed theatre had hosted premieres of works by Sheridan and other notable playwrights since the 17th century.
In the aftermath, plans were made to rebuild the theatre, leading to a new Drury Lane which reopened in 1812.
1809
Drury Lane Theatre
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
1875day.year
The SS Gothenburg hits the Great Barrier Reef and sinks off the Australian east coast, killing approximately 100, including a number of high-profile civil servants and dignitaries.
The steamship SS Gothenburg strikes the Great Barrier Reef and sinks, causing significant loss of life.
On February 24, 1875, the SS Gothenburg ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef while en route from Darwin to Adelaide. Heavy seas and navigational errors drove the vessel onto the reef, breaching the hull. Rescue operations were hampered by rough conditions and a remote location. Of the passengers aboard, nearly 100 perished, including senior civil servants and dignitaries. The tragedy prompted reviews of maritime safety and charting in Australian waters.
1875
SS Gothenburg
Great Barrier Reef
1981day.year
The 6.7 Ms Gulf of Corinth earthquake affected Central Greece with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Twenty-two people were killed, 400 were injured, and damage totaled $812 million.
In 1981, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Gulf of Corinth in central Greece, causing widespread destruction and 22 fatalities.
The Gulf of Corinth earthquake on February 24, 1981, measured 6.7 on the moment magnitude scale and reached VIII on the Mercalli intensity scale. It devastated towns and villages in central Greece, toppling buildings and triggering landslides along the coastline. Rescue teams worked under harsh conditions to aid the 400 injured survivors amid aftershocks. Economic losses were estimated at $812 million, as critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges were severely damaged. The disaster prompted improvements in Greece’s seismic building codes and early warning systems.
1981
Ms
Gulf of Corinth earthquake
Central Greece
Mercalli intensity
1989day.year
United Airlines Flight 811, bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, rips open during flight, blowing nine passengers out of the business-class section.
In 1989, United Airlines Flight 811 experienced an explosive decompression when its cargo door blew off mid-air, resulting in nine fatalities.
Flight 811, a Boeing 747 en route from Honolulu to Sydney, suffered a catastrophic cargo door failure shortly after takeoff. At cruising altitude, the door panel detached, causing an explosive decompression and ejecting nine passengers. The crew made an emergency landing back in Honolulu, where survivors recounted harrowing scenes of chaos. Investigators traced the malfunction to a faulty latching system and design flaws in the door mechanism. Subsequent safety directives led to modifications on all 747s, significantly improving aircraft door security.
1989
United Airlines Flight 811
Honolulu
1999day.year
China Southwest Airlines Flight 4509, a Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft, crashes in Rui'an, Zhejiang, China. All 61 people on board are killed.
A Tupolev Tu-154 operating China Southwest Airlines Flight 4509 crashes in Zhejiang province, killing all 61 on board.
On February 24, 1999, China Southwest Airlines Flight 4509, a Tupolev Tu-154, crashed near Rui'an in Zhejiang province during approach to land.
All 61 passengers and crew members perished when the aircraft suddenly lost control and impacted terrain.
The exact cause of the crash was never conclusively determined, though investigators considered mechanical failure and adverse weather.
The disaster remains one of China's deadliest civil aviation accidents of the 1990s.
It spurred calls for improved safety oversight and modernization of airline fleets within the country.
1999
China Southwest Airlines Flight 4509
Tupolev Tu-154
Rui'an
Zhejiang
2004day.year
The 6.3 Mw Al Hoceima earthquake strikes northern Morocco with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). At least 628 people are killed, 926 are injured, and up to 15,000 are displaced.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes northern Morocco, causing widespread destruction and hundreds of casualties.
On February 24, 2004, a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook the Rif region of northern Morocco, with its epicenter near the city of Al Hoceima.
The quake reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), toppling buildings and igniting fires across the affected area.
At least 628 people lost their lives, over 900 were injured, and as many as 15,000 residents were displaced from their homes.
Rescue teams and international aid organizations mobilized to provide emergency relief and temporary shelter.
The disaster highlighted vulnerabilities in building standards and prompted reforms to improve earthquake resilience in Morocco.
2004
Mw
Al Hoceima earthquake
Morocco
Mercalli intensity
2015day.year
A Metrolink train derails in Oxnard, California following a collision with a truck, leaving more than 30 injured.
A Metrolink commuter train collides with a truck and derails in Oxnard, California, injuring over 30 passengers.
On February 24, 2015, a Metrolink passenger train in Oxnard, California, collided with a pickup truck at a grade crossing before derailing.
The impact caused several train cars to overturn, leaving more than 30 people injured and prompting a swift emergency response.
First responders and medical teams attended to wounded passengers at the scene and nearby hospitals.
The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision.
The accident highlighted ongoing safety challenges at railway crossings across the United States.
2015
Metrolink
derails
Oxnard, California
2016day.year
Tara Air Flight 193, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, crashed, with 23 fatalities, in Solighopte, Myagdi District, Dhaulagiri Zone, while en route from Pokhara Airport to Jomsom Airport.
Tara Air Flight 193 crashes in Nepal's mountainous region, killing all 23 people on board.
On February 24, 2016, Tara Air Flight 193, a Twin Otter operated by Tara Air, disappeared during its flight from Pokhara to Jomsom in Nepal.
The aircraft crashed into a hillside in Solighopte, Myagdi District, amid poor weather and challenging terrain.
All 23 passengers and crew were killed, marking one of Nepal's deadliest domestic aviation disasters.
Search and rescue teams faced difficult conditions before locating the wreckage days later.
The crash spurred discussions on flight safety standards and the risks of aviation operations in Himalayan regions.
2016
Tara Air Flight 193
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
Solighopte, Myagdi District, Dhaulagiri Zone
Pokhara Airport
Jomsom Airport