July 12

The battleship Kawachi exploded while anchored at Tokuyama harbor in western Honshu, Japan. A magazine detonation tore the ship apart in seconds, leaving only scattered debris and survivors in the water. Investigations pointed to unstable propellant as a likely cause of the disaster. The loss of Kawachi was one of the deadliest peacetime accidents in Japanese naval history. It prompted the Imperial Japanese Navy to overhaul its ammunition storage and handling procedures. Families and the nation mourned the significant loss of life at the height of World War I.

Torrential monsoon rains caused both dams to breach, sending walls of water downstream into the city. The sudden deluge swept away homes, bridges, and infrastructure within hours. Rescue operations were hampered by debris and continued rainfall. The disaster prompted nationwide relief efforts and criticism of dam safety standards. Reconstruction efforts led to improved design and stricter oversight of large-scale water projects. The Pune floods highlighted the risks of rapid urban expansion in monsoon-prone regions.

On July 12, 1961, ČSA Flight 511, carrying passengers and crew from Czechoslovakia, crashed while taking off from Casablanca–Anfa Airport. The sudden accident occurred in poor weather conditions, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. All 72 people on board lost their lives in the impact. Moroccan and Czechoslovak investigators launched a joint inquiry, examining mechanical and operational factors. Although a definitive cause was not publicly confirmed, the disaster prompted ČSA to strengthen its safety protocols. The crash remains one of the deadliest in Morocco's aviation history.

On July 12, 1973, a catastrophic fire broke out on the sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The blaze consumed an estimated 16 to 18 million military personnel files, primarily from World War I and World War II. Investigators concluded that an electrical fault likely triggered the fire, and the dense paper archives fueled its rapid spread. The loss severely impacted veterans seeking to verify service records, pensions, and benefits. Reconstruction efforts relied on alternative sources such as morning reports, pay records, and unit rosters from other repositories. The disaster underscored the vulnerability of paper archives and led to modernization of record preservation and fire safety protocols in federal facilities.

On July 12, 2012, a tanker truck carrying gasoline collided with a car in Okobie, a village in southeastern Nigeria. Villagers rushed to collect spilled fuel, only for the tanker to ignite in a massive fireball. The explosion and ensuing blaze killed over 100 people and injured scores more. Hospitals in the region were overwhelmed by survivors suffering severe burns. The disaster highlighted the dangers of informal fuel collection and inadequate safety measures. It prompted calls for stricter road safety regulations and better emergency response protocols in rural areas.

On July 12, 2013, a commuter train traveling to Paris derailed just before a station at Brétigny-sur-Orge. A track failure caused the last three carriages to overturn and collide with the station platform. Six people lost their lives and more than 200 were injured, some critically. Emergency services quickly arrived, managing a complex rescue operation amid damaged infrastructure. Investigators later attributed the crash to a broken rail bolt, prompting national rail safety reviews. The tragedy spurred reforms in track inspection and maintenance protocols across France’s railway network.

On July 12, 2024, a Gazpromavia passenger flight en route to a remote oil field runway crashed in the Kolomensky District near Kolomna, Russia. The aircraft encountered technical issues shortly after takeoff and descended rapidly into a wooded area. All three crew members on board died in the impact; there were no passengers on this positioning flight. Russian aviation authorities launched an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Preliminary findings pointed to potential engine failure, but detailed analysis was ongoing. The crash raised concerns about the safety of remote charter operations in harsh environments.