1816day.year
The French frigate Méduse strikes the Bank of Arguin and 151 people on board have to be evacuated on an improvised raft, a case immortalised by Géricault's painting The Raft of the Medusa.
The French frigate Méduse wrecks off Africa’s coast, leading survivors to endure a desperate raft ordeal later immortalized by Géricault.
In 1816, the frigate Méduse, carrying colonists to Senegal, ran aground on the Bank of Arguin due to navigational errors and alleged incompetence. Forced to construct a makeshift raft for 151 passengers and crew, survivors faced starvation, dehydration, and mutiny over the span of thirteen harrowing days. Of those on the raft, only fifteen were rescued, many after resorting to cannibalism. Théodore Géricault’s 1818 painting, The Raft of the Medusa, brought public attention to the tragedy and critique of French political patronage, cementing the episode’s enduring legacy in art and history.
1816
French frigate Méduse
Bank of Arguin
Géricault
The Raft of the Medusa
1840day.year
A Ms 7.4 earthquake strikes present-day Turkey and Armenia; combined with the effects of an eruption on Mount Ararat, kills 10,000 people.
A devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes near Mount Ararat, claiming around 10,000 lives.
At dawn on July 2, 1840, a powerful earthquake measuring approximately 7.4 on the Richter scale struck the region straddling present-day eastern Turkey and Armenia.
The seismic event, intensified by a volcanic eruption on the slopes of Mount Ararat, reduced entire villages to rubble.
Collapsed buildings, landslides, and aftershocks caused widespread destruction across the Erzurum and Kars provinces.
Contemporary accounts report close to 10,000 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 19th century in the Ottoman Empire.
Relief efforts were hampered by the remote terrain and the limited infrastructure of the era.
The tragedy prompted early seismic research and influenced later approaches to earthquake preparedness in the region.
1840
7.4 earthquake
Mount Ararat
1937day.year
Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan are last heard from over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight.
Aviation pioneers Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan vanished over the Pacific Ocean during their attempt at the first equatorial round-the-world flight.
On July 2, 1937, during their ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe along the equator, Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan were last heard from near Howland Island in the Pacific. Piloting a Lockheed Electra, they communicated with U.S. Coast Guard vessels but failed to locate the tiny island’s runway. Despite extensive search efforts, no definitive trace of the pair or their aircraft was ever found. The disappearance sparked widespread speculation, fueling theories of crash, capture, or survival on a remote atoll. Earhart’s bold flight had already shattered gender barriers and captivated the public imagination. The mystery remains one of aviation history’s most enduring unsolved puzzles. Their legacy continues to inspire explorers and aviation enthusiasts around the world.
1937
Amelia Earhart
Fred Noonan
1986day.year
Aeroflot Flight 2306 crashes while attempting an emergency landing at Syktyvkar Airport in Syktyvkar, in present-day Komi Republic, Russia, killing 54 people.
Aeroflot Flight 2306 crashed on approach to Syktyvkar Airport in Russia on July 2, 1986, resulting in 54 fatalities.
While attempting an emergency landing at Syktyvkar Airport, Aeroflot Flight 2306 encountered catastrophic issues that led to a crash. The flight, carrying passengers and crew, struggled with adverse weather conditions and technical malfunctions. Rescue teams faced harsh environmental challenges in reaching the wreckage. Of those aboard, 54 lost their lives, marking one of the worst aviation disasters in the Komi Republic. The accident prompted investigations into safety protocols and emergency response measures within Soviet-era aviation. It led to improved training and stricter maintenance regulations to prevent similar tragedies.
Aeroflot Flight 2306
Syktyvkar Airport
Syktyvkar
Komi Republic
Russia
1990day.year
In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca.
Over 1,400 pilgrims died in a fatal crush and suffocation inside a pedestrian tunnel near Mecca on July 2, 1990.
During the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a massive surge of worshippers in a poorly ventilated tunnel led to a catastrophic stampede. Over 1,400 pilgrims were either trampled or suffocated in the confines of the passageway leading to the holy sites of Mecca. Emergency services struggled to access the tightly packed crowd, delaying medical assistance. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest incidents in Hajj history and prompted Saudi authorities to implement extensive crowd management and infrastructure upgrades. Subsequent Hajj seasons have seen improved safety measures to protect pilgrims from similar disasters. The event underscores the challenges of hosting one of the world's largest religious gatherings.
1990
1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy
Mecca
1994day.year
USAir Flight 1016 crashes near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing 37 of the 57 people on board.
USAir Flight 1016 crashed on July 2, 1994, near Charlotte in a severe storm, resulting in 37 deaths.
Flight 1016 encountered a sudden microburst-induced wind shear while on final approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The Boeing 737 lost lift and plunged short of the runway, disintegrating on impact. Of the 57 passengers and crew, 37 perished and dozens were injured. Investigators identified inadequate wind shear detection and crew training as contributing factors. The accident led to enhancements in weather radar systems and pilot protocols for handling severe thunderstorms. These improvements have since increased safety margins for aircraft operating in challenging meteorological conditions.
1994
USAir Flight 1016
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
2010day.year
The South Kivu tank truck explosion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo kills at least 230 people.
A catastrophic fuel tanker explosion in South Kivu, DRC, claims at least 230 lives and injures many more.
On July 2, 2010, a tanker truck loaded with fuel overturned on a road near Sange in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Local residents and passersby rushed to collect leaking fuel, unaware of the danger of sparks or heat. The tanker exploded violently, engulfing bystanders in flames and causing widespread destruction. Official reports confirmed at least 230 fatalities and scores of severe injuries. The disaster exposed the lack of safety regulations and emergency response capabilities in the region. It also prompted calls for better transport oversight and public education on the dangers of fuel spills.
2010
South Kivu tank truck explosion
Democratic Republic of the Congo
2013day.year
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people and injuring 420 others.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake devastates Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people and injuring hundreds.
On July 2, 2013, a powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the province of Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia. The tremor caused buildings to collapse in the city of Aceh Besar and surrounding areas. At least 42 people were killed and more than 420 were injured in the disaster. Thousands of residents were left homeless and required emergency shelter and aid. The quake disrupted infrastructure, including roads and communication networks, complicating rescue efforts. Indonesian authorities and international organizations mobilized to provide relief supplies, medical assistance, and temporary housing to those affected.
earthquake strikes
Aceh
Indonesia
2024day.year
A stampede during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh, India, leaves at least 121 people dead and 150 others injured.
A deadly stampede at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh kills over 120 people and injures many more, highlighting safety concerns at mass events.
On July 2, 2024, a massive crowd crush occurred during a religious festival in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Devotees gathered at a temple complex when panic broke out, triggering a stampede that swept through narrow corridors. The tragedy resulted in at least 121 deaths and left 150 individuals injured, many with severe injuries. Eyewitnesses reported confusion and lack of crowd control measures at the site. The incident prompted investigations into the organization of the event and the adequacy of safety protocols. Local authorities pledged to improve crowd management strategies to prevent similar disasters in the future.
2024
A stampede
Uttar Pradesh