1638day.year
The first of four destructive Calabrian earthquakes strikes southern Italy. Measuring magnitude 6.8 and assigned a Mercalli intensity of XI, it kills 10,000–30,000 people.
A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes Calabria in southern Italy, killing tens of thousands in one of the region's deadliest tremors.
On March 27, 1638, the first in a sequence of four destructive earthquakes shook the Calabria region of southern Italy, registering an estimated magnitude of 6.8 and a catastrophic Mercalli intensity of XI. The tremor obliterated entire villages, collapsing homes, churches, and public buildings with little warning. Contemporary accounts describe scenes of widespread panic as survivors navigated the ruins amid aftershocks. Estimates of the death toll range from 10,000 to 30,000, making it one of the deadliest seismic events in Italian history. The disaster prompted early discussions on earthquake-resistant construction and relief coordination between local authorities and the Kingdom of Naples. Recovery was slow, with many communities unable to fully rebuild for decades.
1638
Calabrian earthquakes
southern Italy
Mercalli intensity
1964day.year
The Good Friday earthquake, the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history at a magnitude of 9.2 strikes Southcentral Alaska, killing 125 people and inflicting massive damage to the city of Anchorage.
The Good Friday earthquake, the most powerful recorded in North American history at magnitude 9.2, struck Southcentral Alaska on March 27, 1964.
At 5:36 PM local time on March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquake shook Alaska’s Cook Inlet region, becoming the second-largest earthquake ever recorded globally. The seismic event triggered massive landslides, tsunamis, and ground fissures that devastated towns including Anchorage and Valdez. The quake and subsequent tsunami killed 125 people and caused over $300 million in damage. Infrastructure such as highways, bridges, and port facilities were obliterated, plunging remote communities into isolation. This disaster prompted a complete overhaul of building codes and spurred advances in seismic research. The Good Friday earthquake remains a stark reminder of the power of Earth’s tectonic forces.
1964
Good Friday earthquake
North American
magnitude
Southcentral Alaska
Anchorage
1977day.year
Tenerife airport disaster: Two Boeing 747 airliners collide on a foggy runway on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, killing 583 (all 248 on KLM and 335 on Pan Am). Sixty-one survived on the Pan Am flight. This is the deadliest aviation accident in history.
The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, when two Boeing 747s collided in dense fog, killing 583 passengers and crew.
At Los Rodeos Airport on March 27, 1977, a KLM Boeing 747 commenced takeoff without clearance and collided with a Pan Am 747 taxiing across the runway. Dense fog and radio communication errors contributed to the tragic sequence of events. Of the 644 people on both aircraft, 583 lost their lives, making it the deadliest aviation accident in history. The aftermath led to a thorough overhaul of international air traffic control procedures and standardized phraseology to prevent misunderstandings. Investigations also prompted improvements in runway design and pilot training. The Tenerife disaster remains a sobering lesson in the vital importance of clear communication and safety protocols in aviation.
1977
Tenerife airport disaster
Boeing 747
airliners
Tenerife
Canary Islands
KLM
Pan Am
1980day.year
The Norwegian oil platform Alexander L. Kielland collapses in the North Sea, killing 123 of its crew of 212.
The Alexander L. Kielland offshore platform collapses in the North Sea, resulting in 123 fatalities among its 212 crew members. It remains one of the deadliest oil rig disasters in history.
Built in 1976, the Alexander L. Kielland was a jackup oil platform operating in harsh North Sea conditions.
On March 27, 1980, a fatigue crack in one of its bracing legs caused the structure to buckle and roll over.
The collapse happened within minutes, plunging workers into freezing waters in the middle of the night.
Rescue efforts were severely hampered by rough seas and limited visibility.
Of the 212 crew members on board, only 89 were rescued alive, while 123 perished.
Investigations pointed to metal fatigue and design flaws in the leg bracing as primary causes.
The disaster led to significant revisions in offshore safety regulations and inspection protocols.
It remains a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in deepwater drilling operations.
1980
Alexander L. Kielland
North Sea
1986day.year
A car bomb explodes outside Russell Street Police HQ in Melbourne, Australia, killing one police officer and injuring 21 people.
A car bomb explodes outside Melbourne’s Russell Street Police Headquarters, killing one officer and injuring 21 others. The attack shocks the nation and prompts a major manhunt.
On the morning of March 27, 1986, a car laden with explosives was detonated near the entrance of the Russell Street Police HQ.
The blast shattered windows, leveled nearby structures, and sent debris flying onto surrounding streets.
One police officer was killed instantly, and 21 people were injured, including civilians and officers.
The audacious attack represented one of Australia’s worst peacetime bombings.
Law enforcement launched a massive investigation, interviewing hundreds of witnesses across Melbourne.
Suspects were eventually identified, leading to several arrests and convictions over the following years.
The bombing prompted a review of security measures at police facilities nationwide.
1986
car bomb
Russell Street Police HQ
Melbourne
2000day.year
A Phillips Petroleum plant explosion in Pasadena, Texas kills one person and injures 71 others.
A Phillips Petroleum plant in Pasadena, Texas, suffers a catastrophic explosion on March 27, 2000, killing one worker and injuring 71 others. The accident highlights dangerous gaps in industrial safety.
The chemical plant was processing hydrocarbons when a sudden release ignited in the processing unit.
Workers described a massive fireball erupting from the facility, followed by widespread structural damage.
Emergency responders faced intense heat and toxic smoke as they battled the blaze.
Investigations cited equipment failure and inadequate safety protocols as contributing factors.
Regulatory agencies fined the company and mandated extensive safety upgrades.
The incident prompted industry-wide reviews of hazard detection systems and emergency procedures.
Local communities raised concerns about the risks posed by nearby chemical plants.
2000
Phillips Petroleum plant explosion
Pasadena, Texas
2009day.year
The dam forming Situ Gintung, an artificial lake in Indonesia, fails, killing at least 99 people.
In 2009, the earthen dam of the Situ Gintung reservoir in Indonesia collapsed, unleashing floodwaters that claimed at least 99 lives.
Late on March 27, 2009, the poorly maintained earthen dam at Situ Gintung village near Jakarta gave way after heavy rainfall. A massive wall of water swept through surrounding communities in an instant, destroying homes and infrastructure. Rescue teams raced against time to recover survivors, but at least ninety-nine people perished and many more were injured. Investigations pointed to structural weaknesses and inadequate spillway capacity as key factors in the disaster. The tragedy led Indonesian authorities to prioritize dam inspections and emergency preparedness measures nationwide. Memorials and rebuilding efforts in the affected region served as reminders of the need for vigilant water management.
2009
Situ Gintung
Indonesia
2023day.year
Forty people are killed in a fire at a migrant detention facility in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
In 2023, a devastating fire engulfed a migrant detention center in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, killing forty detainees.
In the early hours of March 27, 2023, a fire broke out in a facility holding migrants near the U.S.–Mexico border. The blaze spread rapidly through the overcrowded center, trapping many of the detainees inside. Emergency responders and facility staff worked to evacuate residents, but intense smoke and flames hindered rescue efforts. At least forty people perished, and dozens more suffered injuries, some critical. Mexican authorities launched an investigation into the center’s safety protocols and fire prevention measures. The tragedy sparked international outcry over migrant detention conditions and renewed calls for reform in border management and humanitarian safeguards.
in a fire at a migrant detention facility
Ciudad Juárez