1925day.year
An earthquake (measuring around 7.0 magnitude) occurs in Dali, China, killing an estimated 5,000 people.
A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Dali in Yunnan province, China, killing around 5,000 people and causing widespread devastation.
On March 16, 1925, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Dali in Yunnan province, southwestern China.
The tremor devastated the historic city, collapsing buildings and triggering landslides across the surrounding countryside.
Approximately 5,000 people lost their lives, and thousands more were injured or left homeless.
The disaster disrupted local trade routes and agricultural communities in the region.
Relief efforts by regional authorities and neighboring provinces provided limited aid amid challenging terrain.
1925
earthquake
Dali
1936day.year
Warmer-than-normal temperatures rapidly melt snow and ice on the upper Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, leading to a major flood in Pittsburgh.
Rapid snowmelt leads to the 1936 flood in Pittsburgh, inundating downtown as the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers overflow their banks.
In March 1936, unusually warm temperatures caused rapid snow and ice melt on the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
The swelling waterways breached levees and flooded downtown Pittsburgh, forcing residents to evacuate.
Streets turned into river channels, submerging bridges and damaging infrastructure.
The flood highlighted the city’s vulnerability to spring thaw events and prompted improvements in flood control.
Federal and local authorities coordinated relief and began planning for more robust river management systems.
The disaster spurred the eventual construction of flood walls and reservoirs to protect the city.
1936
Allegheny
Monongahela
a major flood in Pittsburgh
1962day.year
Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappears in the western Pacific Ocean with all 107 aboard missing and presumed dead.
Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 vanished over the western Pacific on March 16, 1962, with 107 passengers and crew never found.
On March 16, 1962, a civilian C-119 Flying Tiger Line aircraft disappeared while on a charter flight to Vietnam.
All 107 people on board were declared missing and presumed lost at sea.
Despite extensive search operations by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, no wreckage was ever recovered.
The disappearance remains one of aviation’s enduring mysteries.
The flight was contracted to carry military personnel and their families during the escalating Vietnam conflict.
Investigators speculated mechanical failure or severe weather, but no definitive cause was established.
1962
Flying Tiger Line Flight 739
1969day.year
A Viasa McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashes in Maracaibo, Venezuela, killing 155.
A Viasa McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashed shortly after takeoff in Maracaibo on March 16, 1969, killing all 155 on board.
On March 16, 1969, a Viasa McDonnell Douglas DC-9 departed from Almirante Padilla Airport in Maracaibo.
Moments after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure and plunged into a nearby neighborhood.
All 155 passengers and crew were killed, making it one of Venezuela’s deadliest civil aviation disasters.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden fireball and dense smoke billowing over the city.
Rescue teams battled intense fires amid the wreckage to recover victims.
The tragedy led to stricter maintenance regulations and improved emergency response planning in Venezuelan aviation.
1969
Viasa
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
crashes
Maracaibo
1978day.year
A Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 crashes near Gabare, Bulgaria, killing 73.
A Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 crashed near Gabare, Bulgaria, on March 16, 1978, killing all 73 on board.
On March 16, 1978, a Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 encountered severe weather en route to Sofia.
The aircraft descended prematurely and struck hills near the village of Gabare.
All 73 passengers and crew perished, marking Bulgaria’s deadliest aviation accident at the time.
Rescue teams located the wreckage amid rain-slicked slopes, finding no survivors.
Investigators cited navigational errors and poor visibility as contributing factors.
The tragedy led to updated approach procedures and stricter instrument flight rules in Bulgarian airspace.
Balkan Bulgarian Airlines
Tupolev Tu-134
crashes
Bulgaria
2001day.year
A series of bomb blasts in the city of Shijiazhuang, China kill 108 people and injure 38 others, the biggest mass murder in China in decades.
A coordinated series of bomb explosions struck Shijiazhuang, China, killing over 100 people on March 16, 2001.
On March 16, 2001, multiple homemade bombs detonated across crowded markets and public spaces in Shijiazhuang.
The synchronized attacks resulted in 108 fatalities and left 38 individuals wounded.
Investigators determined the motive was personal grievance rather than organized terrorism.
Authorities launched one of the largest manhunts in recent Chinese history to apprehend the suspect.
The incident led to a comprehensive overhaul of public security protocols in cities nationwide.
Villagers and survivors described scenes of chaos as explosions tore through innocent bystanders.
The tragedy remains one of the deadliest civilian-targeted attacks in modern Chinese history.
2001
A series of bomb blasts
Shijiazhuang
2010day.year
The Kasubi Tombs, Uganda's only cultural World Heritage Site, are destroyed in a fire.
A catastrophic fire consumed the Kasubi Tombs in Kampala, Uganda, in March 2010. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the tombs of Buganda kings, was almost entirely lost.
On the night of March 16, 2010, a fierce blaze engulfed the Kasubi Tombs complex, a wooden palace and burial site for Buganda monarchs.
The fire quickly spread through the combustible materials, leaving only charred remains of the Royal Mausoleum.
As Uganda’s sole cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site, its destruction sparked international grief and calls for heritage protection.
Investigations pointed to an electrical fault, though arson was also considered before being ruled out.
The loss prompted emergency measures and early-phase plans for reconstruction and digital archiving of artifacts.
2010
Kasubi Tombs
World Heritage Site
2022day.year
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake occurs off the coast of Fukushima, Japan, killing 4 people and injuring 225.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima, Japan, killing four people and injuring over 200.
At 23:36 JST on March 16, 2022, a 7.4-magnitude quake shook the Pacific coast of Fukushima Prefecture.
Tsunami warnings prompted coastal evacuations, though only minor inundations were recorded.
Buildings in Fukushima City sustained damage, and some residents remained in shelters for days.
Emergency responders worked throughout the night to search for survivors and clear debris.
Despite its strength, no damage was reported at the nearby nuclear power plants, relieving some public concern.
2022
7.4-magnitude earthquake
Fukushima
2025day.year
A fire breaks out in a nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia, killing at least 59 people and injuring 155 others.
A devastating fire ripped through a nightclub in Kočani, North Macedonia, claiming at least 59 lives and injuring over 150.
In the early hours of March 16, 2025, flames erupted in a popular nightclub in Kočani, trapping patrons inside.
Eyewitnesses reported a sudden blaze near the stage, likely triggered by faulty pyrotechnics or wiring.
Emergency crews faced challenges reaching the crowded basement venue, prolonging rescue efforts.
Authorities launched a full-scale investigation into safety code violations and potential negligence.
The tragedy prompted nationwide mourning and calls to strengthen fire safety regulations in entertainment venues.
2025
fire breaks out
Kočani
North Macedonia