1915day.year
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition: The SY Aurora broke loose from its anchorage during a gale, beginning a 312-day ordeal.
The expedition ship SY Aurora breaks free during a gale, initiating a 312-day ordeal for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition’s shore party.
During Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, the SY Aurora was anchored at Cape Evans in McMurdo Sound when a severe gale struck on May 6, 1915. The ship’s anchor chains snapped, and the vessel drifted out to sea with the majority of the Ross Sea party still on board. This unplanned departure left the shore party stranded without vital supplies or communication. The Aurora’s crew spent months battling treacherous ice and weather to return. Meanwhile, the marooned shore party endured extreme privation while laying supply depots for Shackleton’s transcontinental crossing. The ordeal lasted 312 days, during which lives were lost and incredible tales of endurance emerged. The incident became one of the expedition’s most dramatic chapters.
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
SY Aurora
broke loose from its anchorage during a gale
1937day.year
Hindenburg disaster: The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirty-six people are killed.
The German airship Hindenburg bursts into flames while docking at Lakehurst, New Jersey, resulting in 36 fatalities.
On May 6, 1937, the LZ 129 Hindenburg, a German passenger airship, attempted to dock at the Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey. Moments before landing, a fire erupted in its hydrogen-filled gas cells. Within seconds, the majestic craft was engulfed in flames and collapsed to the ground. Thirty-six of the 97 people on board lost their lives, along with one ground crew member. The dramatic event was captured in photographs and newsreel footage, shocking the world. The disaster marked the abrupt end of the golden age of passenger airship travel and led to increased scrutiny of lighter-than-air craft.
1937
Hindenburg disaster
German
zeppelin
Lakehurst, New Jersey
1976day.year
The 6.5 Mw Friuli earthquake affected Northern Italy with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), leaving 900–978 dead and 1,700–2,400 injured.
The powerful 6.5 magnitude Friuli earthquake struck Northern Italy in 1976, causing extreme damage and killing nearly a thousand people.
On May 6, 1976, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Friuli region of Northeastern Italy.
With a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), towns like Gemona and Venzone suffered catastrophic destruction.
Between 900 and 978 people lost their lives, and over 1,700 were seriously injured.
Thousands of homes and historical landmarks were reduced to rubble, leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Italy launched a major international relief effort, drawing aid from across Europe.
The quake prompted improvements in seismic building codes and disaster response planning in Italy and beyond.
1976
Friuli earthquake
Northern Italy
Mercalli intensity
1988day.year
All thirty-six passengers and crew were killed when Widerøe Flight 710 crashed into Mt. Torghatten in Brønnøy.
All 36 people aboard Widerøe Flight 710 perished when the plane crashed into Norway’s Mt. Torghatten in 1988, a tragic aviation accident.
On May 6, 1988, Widerøe Flight 710 crashed into the side of Mt. Torghatten in Brønnøy, Norway, killing all 36 passengers and crew.
The aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprop operating a routine domestic service.
Poor weather conditions and navigational challenges contributed to the controlled flight into terrain.
Rescue teams faced difficult terrain and disrupted communication links during recovery operations.
The accident led to improved aviation safety procedures and mountainous flight regulations in Norway.
Memorials now honor the victims and serve as a reminder of the importance of strict flight protocols.
1988
Widerøe Flight 710
Mt. Torghatten
Brønnøy