1783day.year
Laki, a volcano in Iceland, begins an eight-month eruption which kills over 9,000 people and starts a seven-year famine.
In 1783, the Laki volcano in Iceland begins an eight-month eruption, causing widespread death and famine.
The Laki eruption, which began on June 8, 1783, unleashed a torrent of lava and volcanic gases across the southern Icelandic highlands. Over the next eight months, fissures released toxic sulfur dioxide, creating hazardous acid rain and thick haze. Roughly 9,000 Icelanders died from poisoning, starvation, and disease as crops failed and livestock perished. The resulting famine lasted for years, decimating the island’s population. The volcanic ash also drifted across Europe, contributing to unusual weather and agricultural shortfalls. Contemporary observers blamed the “mysterious fog” for crop failures in France and Britain. The Laki event remains one of history’s most devastating volcanic disasters and a stark example of nature’s power.
1783
Laki
volcano
Iceland
famine
1924day.year
British Mount Everest expedition: British mountaineers Andrew Irvine and George Mallory go missing.
Mountaineers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappear near the summit of Mount Everest during the 1924 British expedition.
During the British Mount Everest expedition on June 8, 1924, climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine embarked on a summit bid and were never seen again. Their disappearance in the mountain’s severe conditions sparked decades of speculation about whether they reached the summit before perishing. Mallory’s body was later found in 1999, but Irvine’s fate remains unknown to this day. The mystery surrounding their final climb has captivated explorers, historians, and mountaineering enthusiasts worldwide. The 1924 expedition highlighted the perilous nature of early high-altitude exploration and the limits of contemporary equipment. Mallory and Irvine’s enduring legacy continues to inspire ongoing efforts to unravel the truth of their ascent.
1924
British Mount Everest expedition
Andrew Irvine
George Mallory
1953day.year
An F5 tornado hits Beecher, Michigan, United States, killing 116, injuring 844, and destroying 340 homes.
A catastrophic F5 tornado devastates Beecher, Michigan, resulting in massive loss of life and widespread destruction.
On June 8, 1953, a powerful F5 tornado tore through the Beecher district of Flint, Michigan, leaving a trail of devastation.
The twister claimed 116 lives, injured more than 844 people, and destroyed or severely damaged over 340 homes.
Entire neighborhoods were leveled, uprooting families and crippling local infrastructure.
Rescue and relief efforts mobilized both state and federal agencies to provide medical aid and temporary shelter.
The disaster prompted significant advances in tornado warning systems and meteorological research.
Beecher's recovery underscored the need for improved building standards and emergency preparedness in tornado-prone regions.
1953
An F5 tornado
Beecher, Michigan
1966day.year
An F-104 Starfighter collides with XB-70 Valkyrie prototype no. 2, destroying both aircraft during a photo shoot near Edwards Air Force Base. Joseph A. Walker, a NASA test pilot, and Carl Cross, a United States Air Force test pilot, are both killed.
A tragic mid-air collision between an F-104 Starfighter and an XB-70 Valkyrie prototype during a photo flight kills two test pilots.
On June 8, 1966, an F-104 Starfighter collided with the second prototype of the XB-70 Valkyrie during a publicity photo formation flight over Edwards Air Force Base.
The crash destroyed both aircraft, marking a fatal setback in the high-speed research program.
NASA test pilot Joseph A. Walker and USAF pilot Carl Cross lost their lives in the accident.
The collision underscored the extreme risks involved in supersonic flight testing and aerial demonstrations.
Investigations led to revised safety protocols and formation flying procedures for experimental aircraft.
Despite the tragedy, the XB-70 program contributed valuable data to high-altitude and supersonic aerodynamics research.
1966
F-104 Starfighter
XB-70 Valkyrie
Edwards Air Force Base
Joseph A. Walker
NASA
United States Air Force
1966day.year
Topeka, Kansas, United States is devastated by a tornado that registers as an "F5" on the Fujita scale, exceeding US$200 million in damages. Seventeen people are killed, over five hundred more injured, and thousands of homes damaged or destroyed.
A catastrophic F5 tornado strikes Topeka, Kansas, causing massive destruction and hundreds of casualties.
In 1966, a powerful F5 tornado tore through Topeka, Kansas, leveling entire neighborhoods with winds over 260 mph.
The storm inflicted more than US$200 million in damages, a staggering figure at the time.
Seventeen people lost their lives, over five hundred were injured, and thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.
Emergency responders and local volunteers worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and clear debris in the aftermath.
The scale of destruction in Topeka highlighted the need for improved tornado tracking and warning systems.
This tragic event led to advancements in meteorological research and community preparedness that still protect lives today.
Topeka, Kansas
devastated by a tornado
Fujita scale
1982day.year
VASP Flight 168 crashes in Pacatuba, Ceará, Brazil, killing 128 people.
VASP Flight 168 tragically crashes near Pacatuba, Brazil in 1982, resulting in 128 fatalities.
On June 8, 1982, VASP Flight 168, a Boeing 727, encountered severe weather while approaching Fortaleza Airport and descended into rough terrain near Pacatuba in Ceará state.
The aircraft broke apart on impact, killing all 128 passengers and crew aboard.
Investigators cited pilot error and poor visibility in heavy rain as key factors in the controlled flight into terrain.
The disaster shocked Brazil and led to an overhaul of approach procedures and pilot training for the national carrier.
Families of the victims and aviation authorities pressed for improved safety measures, prompting the installation of advanced navigational aids at Fortaleza Airport.
Today, the crash of Flight 168 remains one of the deadliest accidents in Brazilian civil aviation history, remembered for its human tragedy and the safety strides it inspired.
VASP Flight 168
Pacatuba, Ceará
1992day.year
GP Express Airlines Flight 861 crashes on approach to Anniston Regional Airport in Anniston, Alabama, killing three.
GP Express Airlines Flight 861 crashes near Anniston, Alabama in 1992, resulting in three fatalities during its descent.
On June 8, 1992, a Beechcraft Model 1900C operating as GP Express Flight 861 encountered mechanical issues while on approach to Anniston Regional Airport.
The pilot lost control during descent, and the aircraft impacted a wooded area short of the runway.
All three occupants—two crew members and one passenger—perished in the crash.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board identified engine failure and improper emergency procedures as contributing factors.
The tragedy prompted GP Express Airlines and regulatory bodies to enhance maintenance protocols and crew training on handling in-flight emergencies.
Memorial services honored the victims and underscored the importance of stringent safety standards in regional aviation.
The incident reinforced ongoing efforts to improve reliability and oversight in commuter airline operations.
GP Express Airlines Flight 861
Anniston Regional Airport
Anniston, Alabama
2007day.year
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, is hit by the State's worst storms and flooding in 30 years resulting in the death of nine people and the grounding of a trade ship, the MV Pasha Bulker.
Severe storms and flooding inundated Newcastle, Australia, on June 8, 2007, causing nine fatalities and grounding the bulk carrier MV Pasha Bulker.
On June 8, 2007, Newcastle, New South Wales, experienced its worst storm and flood event in thirty years. Torrential downpours and gale-force winds overwhelmed drainage networks and triggered flash flooding across suburbs. Nine people lost their lives as floodwaters swept through streets and homes. The bulk carrier MV Pasha Bulker ran aground on Nobbys Beach after its engines failed in heavy seas. Emergency teams conducted daring rescues of stranded residents and tourists. The city declared a state of emergency, mobilizing cleanup and relief efforts immediately. The disaster highlighted vulnerabilities in coastal infrastructure and led to improved flood mitigation strategies in the region.
2007
Newcastle, New South Wales
MV Pasha Bulker