1786day.year
Mont Blanc on the French-Italian border is climbed for the first time by Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard.
Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard complete the first ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786.
On August 8, 1786, Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard achieved the first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps.
Their expedition overcame harsh alpine conditions, including treacherous ice and unpredictable weather.
The successful climb marked a milestone in mountaineering and inspired the birth of alpinism as a popular pursuit.
Their route over the Mont Blanc massif demonstrated human endurance and adaptability at high altitudes.
This pioneering ascent sparked interest in mountain exploration and scientific study of alpine environments.
It opened new possibilities for cartography, geology, and weather observation in elevated regions.
1786
Mont Blanc
Jacques Balmat
Michel-Gabriel Paccard
2010day.year
China Floods: A mudslide in Zhugqu County, Gansu, China, kills more than 1,400 people.
A massive mudslide in Gansu province, China, buries villages and claims over 1,400 lives.
Triggered by days of torrential rain, a devastating mudslide struck the mountainous Zhugqu County in Gansu Province on August 8, 2010. The torrent of earth and debris engulfed five rural villages, destroying homes and infrastructure and leaving more than 1,400 people dead. Rescue teams, including thousands of soldiers and volunteers, worked tirelessly amid treacherous conditions to recover survivors and victims. The disaster exposed vulnerabilities in early warning systems and spurred the Chinese government to invest in improved monitoring and risk mitigation for landslide-prone regions. International aid and relief efforts supplemented local responses, and new land-use policies were later enacted to reduce future risks.
2010
China Floods
A mudslide
Zhugqu County
Gansu
China
2023day.year
Hawaii wildfires: Seventeen thousand acres of land are burned and at least 101 people are killed, with two others missing, when a series of wildfires break out on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
Raging wildfires on Maui devastate communities, killing over 100 and burning thousands of acres.
On August 8, 2023, powerful winds from a distant hurricane fanned fast-moving wildfires across the west coast of Maui, including the historic town of Lahaina. The blazes consumed more than 17,000 acres, destroying homes, cultural landmarks, and critical infrastructure. At least 101 people lost their lives, and two were reported missing as firefighters and first responders battled the inferno under extreme conditions. The disaster prompted a massive federal response and raised urgent concerns about wildfire preparedness in Hawaii's dry landscapes. Investigations pointed to downed power lines as a potential ignition source, while island communities rallied to support displaced families and rebuild shattered neighborhoods.
2023
Hawaii wildfires
wildfires
Maui
Hawaii