1068day.year
An earthquake in the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula leaves up to 20,000 dead.
A powerful earthquake struck the Levant and Arabian Peninsula in 1068, leaving as many as 20,000 people dead and devastating countless communities.
On March 18, 1068, a catastrophic earthquake rattled the regions of the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula with intense force. Reports estimate that up to 20,000 lives were lost as entire villages and cities were reduced to rubble. The seismic shock triggered landslides and aftershocks that hampered rescue efforts. Survivors faced widespread homelessness and famine in the quake's wake. Historical chronicles describe the scale of destruction as unparalleled for the era. This disaster remains one of the deadliest earthquakes recorded in medieval Middle Eastern history.
1068
earthquake
Levant
Arabian Peninsula
1925day.year
The 1925 Tri-State tornado hits the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.
A catastrophic tornado sweeps through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, claiming nearly 700 lives in the deadliest twister in U.S. history.
On March 18, 1925, a massive tornado carved a path across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, with wind speeds exceeding 300 mph.
The storm devastated entire towns like Murphysboro, Illinois, and De Soto, Missouri, leveling homes and infrastructure.
With an estimated 695 fatalities, it remains the deadliest single tornado in U.S. history.
The disaster prompted advances in meteorology and the development of severe weather warning systems.
Communities rallied in relief efforts, and memorials now honor those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
1925
1925 Tri-State tornado
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
1937day.year
The New London School explosion in New London, Texas, kills 300 people, mostly children.
An explosion at the New London School in Texas kills around 300 people, mostly children, shocking the nation and prompting changes in safety standards.
On the morning of March 18, 1937, a natural gas leak triggered a catastrophic explosion at the New London School in Rusk County, Texas.
The blast destroyed much of the building and claimed the lives of approximately 300 people, most of them schoolchildren.
At the time, gas lines were unregulated for pressure, and this disaster led to reforms in gas pipeline safety.
Communities across the United States mourned the loss of so many young lives in a single tragic event.
The tragedy remains one of the deadliest school-related disasters in U.S. history.
It prompted the mandatory addition of odorants to natural gas for leak detection.
1937
New London School explosion
New London, Texas
1944day.year
Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupts, killing 26 people, causing thousands to flee their homes, and destroying dozens of Allied bombers.
Mount Vesuvius erupted in Italy, killing dozens and damaging Allied military assets during World War II.
In March 1944, Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano overlooking Naples, violently erupted on March 18.
The eruption sent a massive ash cloud into the sky and unleashed lava flows down its slopes.
Twenty-six people lost their lives, and thousands were forced to flee nearby villages.
Allied forces stationed in the region saw dozens of bombers destroyed by falling volcanic debris.
The disaster disrupted military supply lines and local infrastructure.
It served as a reminder of nature's power amidst the global conflict of World War II.
1944
Mount Vesuvius
1953day.year
An earthquake hits western Turkey, killing at least 1,070 people.
A powerful earthquake struck western Turkey, claiming over a thousand lives and devastating towns on March 18, 1953.
On March 18, 1953, an earthquake struck western Turkey near the Aegean coast.
At least 1,070 people died, and thousands more were injured or left homeless.
Entire villages were leveled, and critical infrastructure collapsed.
Rescue efforts were hampered by aftershocks and harsh weather.
International aid was mobilized to assist survivors and rebuild communities.
The disaster prompted improvements in Turkish seismic monitoring and building codes.
1953
earthquake
Turkey
1966day.year
United Arab Airlines Flight 749 crashes on approach to Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, killing 30 people.
United Arab Airlines Flight 749 crashes on approach to Cairo, resulting in 30 fatalities.
On March 18, 1966, United Arab Airlines Flight 749 tragically crashed while attempting to land at Cairo International Airport in Egypt. The aircraft encountered difficulties in poor weather conditions and lost control during its final descent. All 30 passengers and crew aboard lost their lives in the accident. The crash prompted an investigation into airline safety procedures and weather forecasting for flight operations in the region. It led to improvements in approach protocols and the installation of enhanced navigational aids at Cairo International Airport. The incident remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian aviation history at the time.
1966
United Arab Airlines Flight 749
Cairo International Airport
Cairo
1967day.year
The supertanker Torrey Canyon runs aground off the Cornish coast.
The oil supertanker Torrey Canyon runs aground off Cornwall, causing one of the first major marine oil spills.
On March 18, 1967, the 65,000-ton supertanker Torrey Canyon struck Pollard's Rock off the coast of Cornwall, England. The collision ruptured the vessel's oil tanks, releasing an estimated 119,000 tons of crude oil into the sea. It became one of the world's earliest and most devastating oil spills, fouling hundreds of miles of shoreline. British and French authorities deployed naval vessels and used detergent chemicals and bombs in an unprecedented cleanup effort. The disaster raised global awareness of marine environmental protection and led to tighter regulations on oil tanker operations. It spurred international cooperation to prevent and respond to future oil spill incidents.
1967
supertanker
Torrey Canyon
1971day.year
Peru: A landslide crashes into Yanawayin Lake, killing 200 people at the mining camp of Chungar.
A massive landslide crashes into Yanawayin Lake in Peru, killing around 200 people at a mining camp.
On March 18, 1971, a catastrophic landslide swept down the mountainside into Yanawayin Lake in Southern Peru. The sudden deluge of rock and earth engulfed the mining camp at Chungar, where miners and their families lived. Approximately 200 lives were lost as workers were trapped beneath debris and turbulent waters. Rescue efforts were hampered by remote jungle terrain and treacherous conditions. The disaster highlighted the risks faced by miners working in unstable geological regions. It led to international attention on mining safety practices and prompted calls for improved site assessments and early warning systems. Investigation into the tragedy influenced future regulations for mining operations in Peru and other high-risk areas.
1971
Peru
landslide
Yanawayin Lake
1980day.year
A Vostok-2M rocket at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 explodes during a fueling operation, killing 48 people.
A Vostok-2M rocket at Plesetsk Cosmodrome explodes during fueling, killing 48 workers.
On March 18, 1980, a Vostok-2M launch vehicle undergoing fueling at Site 43 of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome detonated unexpectedly. The catastrophic explosion claimed the lives of 48 technicians and cosmonaut support personnel. The accident occurred when a kerosene leak ignited, causing a rapid chain reaction in the rocket's propellant tanks. Soviet authorities maintained tight secrecy surrounding the tragedy, limiting public acknowledgment and investigation. The disaster underscored the inherent dangers of rocketry and the need for stringent safety protocols in space launch operations. It led to internal reviews of fueling procedures and engineering standards within the Soviet space program. Despite the setback, Plesetsk remained a critical site for the USSR's satellite and missile launches.
1980
Vostok-2M
Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43
explodes during a fueling operation
1996day.year
A nightclub fire in Quezon City, Philippines kills 162 people.
A deadly fire at the Ozone Disco in Quezon City kills 162 people, marking one of the worst nightclub disasters ever.
In the early hours of March 18, 1996, a blaze broke out at the Ozone Disco Club in Quezon City, Philippines. The fire spread rapidly through the packed venue, trapping hundreds of partygoers. Locked exits and inadequate safety protocols prevented many from escaping. Emergency responders arrived quickly but were overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster. A total of 162 people lost their lives, most of them young students. The tragedy spurred widespread reforms in fire safety regulations across the country.
1996
nightclub fire
Quezon City
1997day.year
The tail of a Russian Antonov An-24 charter plane breaks off while en route to Turkey, causing the plane to crash and killing all 50 people on board.
A structural failure causes a Russian Antonov An-24 to crash en route to Turkey, killing all 50 aboard.
On March 18, 1997, an Antonov An-24 charter flight experienced a catastrophic tail separation while en route to Turkey. The sudden structural break caused the aircraft to lose control and crash. All 50 passengers and crew members were killed on impact. Investigators cited metal fatigue and maintenance shortcomings as likely factors. The accident raised concerns about the safety standards of aging Soviet-era aircraft. This crash remains one of the deadliest incidents involving an Antonov An-24.
1997
Antonov An-24
breaks off