1881day.year
The USS Jeannette is crushed in an Arctic Ocean ice pack.
The USS Jeannette becomes trapped and crushed by pack ice in the Arctic Ocean, triggering a desperate struggle for survival.
On June 13, 1881, the USS Jeannette became locked in the East Siberian Sea ice pack during an expedition aiming for the North Pole. After drifting for months, the ship's hull was crushed under immense pressure, forcing the crew to abandon her. Men hauled lifeboats across shifting ice floes toward the Siberian coast, enduring freezing temperatures and hunger. Many succumbed to starvation and exposure before reaching rescue points. Only a dozen survivors managed to return home, making the tragedy both a cautionary tale and a testament to polar explorers' endurance.
1881
USS Jeannette
1886day.year
A fire devastates much of Vancouver, British Columbia.
A massive fire rips through Vancouver, British Columbia, obliterating much of the fledgling city and leaving thousands homeless.
On June 13, 1886, a blaze ignited in a wood-frame bakery in Gastown and spread rapidly amid strong winds and densely packed wooden buildings. Within hours, the inferno consumed two-thirds of Vancouver’s structures, including homes, hotels, and sawmills. Firefighting efforts were hampered by limited water supply and primitive equipment. Nearly a thousand residents were rendered homeless, and losses amounted to millions of dollars. In the aftermath, the city implemented stricter building codes and modernized its fire brigade. The reconstruction period reshaped Vancouver’s urban landscape and spurred rapid population growth.
1886
A fire devastates
Vancouver
British Columbia
1994day.year
A jury in Anchorage, Alaska, blames recklessness by Exxon and Captain Joseph Hazelwood for the Exxon Valdez disaster, allowing victims of the oil spill to seek $15 billion in damages.
An Anchorage jury found Exxon and its captain negligent in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, opening the door for billions in damages.
On June 13, 1994, a jury in Anchorage ruled that Exxon and Captain Joseph Hazelwood were reckless in the Exxon Valdez disaster.\nThis landmark decision held the company and its crew personally liable for the largest oil spill in U.S. history.\nThe verdict enabled more than 30,000 claimants to seek up to $15 billion in compensation for environmental and economic losses.\nThe spill had devastated Alaska's Prince William Sound ecosystem, killing thousands of marine animals.\nLegal battles over fines and cleanup costs would continue for years.\nThe case reshaped industry regulations and corporate accountability in environmental disasters.
1994
Anchorage, Alaska
Exxon
Joseph Hazelwood
Exxon Valdez
1996day.year
Garuda Indonesia flight 865 crashes during takeoff from Fukuoka Airport, killing three people and injuring 170.
Garuda Indonesia Flight 865 crashed while departing Fukuoka Airport, resulting in three fatalities and numerous injuries.
On June 13, 1996, Garuda Indonesia Flight 865 overshot the runway during takeoff from Fukuoka Airport in Japan.\nThe DC-10 aircraft struck an embankment and broke apart, igniting fires on impact.\nThree passengers were killed and more than 170 others suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe.\nInvestigations pointed to pilot error and insufficient thrust as contributing factors.\nThe crash led to safety reviews and improvements in crew training procedures.\nToday, it remains one of Indonesia’s most serious aviation accidents.
Garuda Indonesia flight 865
Fukuoka Airport
1997day.year
The Uphaar Cinema Fire took place at Green Park, Delhi, resulting in the deaths of 59 people and seriously injured 103 others.
A devastating fire at the Uphaar Cinema in Delhi killed 59 people and injured over 100 in one of India’s worst cinema tragedies.
On June 13, 1997, a short circuit sparked a blaze in the crowded Uphaar Cinema during an afternoon show.\nFlames and dense smoke trapped attendees, while exit gates were found locked or malfunctioning.\nIn the chaos, 59 moviegoers lost their lives and 103 sustained severe burns and smoke inhalation.\nThe disaster prompted nationwide outrage over building safety and fire regulations.\nLegal battles and compensation claims would continue for decades.\nThe tragedy led to stricter enforcement of fire safety laws in public venues across India.
Uphaar Cinema Fire
Green Park, Delhi
2021day.year
A gas explosion in Zhangwan district of Shiyan city, in Hubei province of China kills at least 12 people and wounds over 138 others.
A gas explosion in Hubei province, China, kills at least 12 and injures over 138 in 2021.
A sudden gas blast tore through a residential area in Zhangwan district on June 13, 2021.
Emergency teams raced to extinguish fires and rescue survivors from collapsed buildings.
Authorities confirmed 12 fatalities and more than 138 wounded in the disaster.
Investigators probed potential leaks and safety violations as possible causes.
The tragedy underscored ongoing concerns about urban infrastructure safety in growing cities.
2021
gas explosion
Zhangwan
2023day.year
At least 100 people are killed when a wedding boat capsizes on the Niger River in Kwara State, Nigeria.
A wedding boat capsizes on Nigeria's Niger River in 2023, causing over 100 deaths.
During a festive ceremony on June 13, 2023, a boat ferrying wedding guests overturned in Kwara State.
Strong currents and overloading were blamed for the tragic capsizing.
Local rescue teams and civilians searched through the night for survivors.
Officials confirmed at least 100 fatalities and dozens of missing passengers.
The incident prompted calls for stricter safety regulations on river transport.
2023
capsizes
Niger River
Kwara State