1858day.year
The 1858 Christiania fire severely destroys several city blocks near Stortorvet in Christiania, Norway, and about 1,000 people lose their homes.
A massive fire devastated several blocks of Christiania (now Oslo), Norway, on April 14, 1858, leaving about 1,000 people homeless. The blaze underscored the risks of densely built wooden cities.
The Christiania fire erupted near Stortorvet in the early morning hours, quickly fueled by a strong wind and tightly packed wooden buildings. Fire brigades struggled to contain the flames as embers jumped across narrow streets. Historic merchant houses and public buildings were lost in the inferno, displacing families and businesses. Local authorities set up temporary shelters and relief committees to assist the displaced. The disaster prompted new fire safety regulations and accelerated the city's transition to brick and stone architecture. Reconstruction efforts reshaped the northern part of the city with wider streets and improved infrastructure.
1858
1858 Christiania fire
Stortorvet
Christiania
1895day.year
The 1895 Ljubljana earthquake, both the most and last destructive earthquake in the area, occurs.
On April 14, 1895, a powerful earthquake struck Ljubljana (then part of Austria-Hungary), causing widespread damage and marking the city's last major seismic event. The quake reshaped the urban landscape and spurred new building standards.
The early-morning quake caught residents by surprise as tremors toppled medieval towers, collapsed chimneys, and cracked facades across the historic core. Many families lost homes as streets filled with rubble and dust. In the aftermath, local authorities organized relief efforts and temporary shelters. Reconstruction plans introduced stricter building codes and encouraged the use of brick and stone. The disaster prompted modern urban planning and the creation of green spaces to prevent future damage. Today, markers and exhibits in Ljubljana commemorate the resilience of its citizens.
1895
1895 Ljubljana earthquake
1908day.year
Hauser Dam, a steel dam on the Missouri River in Montana, fails, sending a surge of water 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) high downstream.
On April 14, 1908, the steel Hauser Dam on Montana's Missouri River catastrophically failed, unleashing a 25–30 foot wave downstream.
Built in 1907 to harness hydroelectric power, the Hauser Dam was among the first steel dams in the United States. On the evening of April 14, 1908, the structure suddenly gave way under water pressure, sending a massive wave racing down the Missouri River valley. The floodwaters engulfed farms, washed out bridges, and swept away livestock and homes. While no human fatalities were recorded, the economic loss was substantial for local communities. Investigations revealed design flaws and the need for stricter engineering standards. The collapse spurred reforms in dam safety regulations and influenced future hydraulic construction projects. Today, the incident remains a cautionary tale in the history of civil engineering.
1908
Hauser Dam
steel dam
Missouri River
Montana
1912day.year
The British passenger liner RMS Titanic hits an iceberg in the North Atlantic and begins to sink.
On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, setting in motion the disaster that would claim over 1,500 lives.
The White Star Line's RMS Titanic, hailed as the largest and most luxurious liner of its time, was on its maiden voyage when disaster struck. At approximately 11:40 PM on April 14, 1912, lookouts spotted an iceberg directly in the ship’s path. Despite attempts to steer clear, the Titanic’s starboard hull scraped against the ice, tearing open multiple compartments. Passengers experienced jolts and alarms, but many believed the vessel was unsinkable. Over the next hours, the ship took on water and began to list uncontrollably. The collision would ultimately lead to the loss of more than 1,500 lives when the ship sank at dawn on April 15. The tragedy prompted sweeping changes in maritime safety, including lifeboat requirements and ice patrols.
1912
RMS Titanic
1935day.year
The Black Sunday dust storm, considered one of the worst storms of the Dust Bowl, sweeps across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and neighboring areas.
The Black Sunday dust storm struck on April 14, 1935, unleashing one of the worst dust storms of the American Dust Bowl across Oklahoma and Texas.
On a windy afternoon in the Southern Plains, soil depleted by drought and poor farming practices was lifted into the air forming massive clouds of dust. The storm reached heights of two miles and carried soil particles across hundreds of miles. Day turned into night as the sky blackened, and visibility dropped to a few feet. Families in Oklahoma and Texas panhandles endured breathing difficulties, property damage, and crop destruction. The scale of the disaster highlighted the environmental toll of unsustainable agriculture. Black Sunday galvanized support for federal relief programs and soil conservation initiatives. The Dust Bowl remains a defining example of human-induced environmental catastrophe.
1935
Black Sunday dust storm
Dust Bowl
the Oklahoma
Texas
1944day.year
Bombay explosion: A massive explosion in Bombay harbor kills 300 and causes economic damage valued at 20 million pounds.
On April 14, 1944, a massive explosion rocked Bombay harbor, killing around 300 people and causing an estimated £20 million in damage.
A fire broke out aboard a munitions ship docked in Bombay harbor, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction on April 14, 1944. The resulting blast leveled docks, warehouses, and nearby vessels, sending shockwaves through the city. Rescue teams struggled against fires, collapsing structures, and continuing eruptions of secondary explosions. Civilian and military casualties numbered in the hundreds, with countless residents injured or rendered homeless. The economic impact crippled essential wartime logistics and disrupted supply chains in British India. Investigations pointed to volatile cargo storage and inadequate safety measures as contributing factors. The Bombay explosion spurred reforms in port regulations and emergency response protocols across the empire.
1944
Bombay explosion
Bombay
1986day.year
The heaviest hailstones ever recorded, each weighing 1 kilogram (2.2 lb), fall on the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, killing 92.
Record-breaking 1-kg hailstones devastate the Gopalganj district in Bangladesh, killing 92 people.
On April 14, 1986, the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh was struck by an unprecedented hailstorm.
Individual hailstones measured up to 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), the largest ever recorded.
The massive stones fell from storm clouds with lethal force, damaging roofs, crops, and livestock.
Ninety-two people were killed, many succumbing to direct impacts.
Emergency services struggled to reach remote villages amid widespread destruction.
The event remains a sobering reminder of the power of severe weather.
1986
hailstones
Gopalganj district of Bangladesh
1999day.year
A severe hailstorm strikes Sydney, Australia causing A$2.3 billion in insured damages, the most costly natural disaster in Australian history.
A record-breaking hailstorm pounded Sydney, Australia, inflicting A$2.3 billion in insured losses—the highest cost for any natural disaster in the nation's history.
On April 14, 1999, Sydney experienced one of its most destructive hailstorms, with hailstones the size of cricket balls hammering the metropolitan area. The storm caused widespread property damage, smashing windows, denting vehicles, and flooding homes and businesses. Insured losses reached A$2.3 billion, surpassing all previous natural disaster records in Australia. The event prompted advances in weather forecasting, upgrades to building codes, and the expansion of insurance coverage for extreme weather events.
severe hailstorm
Sydney
A$
2016day.year
The foreshock of a major earthquake occurs in Kumamoto, Japan.
A powerful foreshock struck Kumamoto, Japan, on April 14, 2016, foreshadowing the devastating quakes that followed.
In the early hours of April 14, 2016, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook the Kumamoto region in Kyushu, Japan.
Although labeled a foreshock, it caused significant shaking, collapsing buildings and injuring dozens.
This tremor served as a precursor to a larger magnitude 7.0 quake on April 16, intensifying damage.
Residents endured aftershocks that rattled nerves and infrastructure.
Emergency crews mobilized swiftly, showcasing Japan's earthquake preparedness.
Roads, bridges, and historic sites suffered major damage, disrupting transportation and tourism.
The event underscored the seismic volatility of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
2016
foreshock of a major earthquake
Kumamoto
2024day.year
Flooding in the Persian Gulf starts, killing 19 in Oman.
Severe flooding struck Oman and the Persian Gulf region on April 14, 2024, causing widespread devastation and claiming 19 lives.
On April 14, 2024, unprecedented rainfall triggered flash floods across Oman and neighboring Persian Gulf nations.
Torrents of water rushed through wadis, sweeping away vehicles, homes, and roads.
Emergency responders rescued hundreds of stranded residents amid rising waters.
Nineteen people tragically lost their lives, and many more were injured or displaced.
Critical infrastructure suffered severe damage, disrupting commerce and communication.
The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of arid regions to extreme weather events.
Calls for enhanced flood management and resilient urban planning grew louder in the aftermath.
2024
Flooding in the Persian Gulf
Oman