1891day.year
A major hurricane strikes Martinique, leaving 700 dead.
A powerful hurricane devastated the island of Martinique on August 18, 1891, resulting in approximately 700 fatalities.
Striking without modern warning systems, the Category 3 storm ripped through Martinique’s Caribbean coastline, uprooting trees and destroying buildings. Plantations and sugar mills—vital to the island’s economy—suffered catastrophic damage, leaving many residents destitute. Coastal villages were flooded as storm surges swept ashore, claiming lives and sweeping homes into the sea. Relief efforts were hampered by damaged infrastructure and limited communication. The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of island communities and fueled early calls for improved meteorological observation. Memorials on Martinique today honor those who perished and the resilience of survivors.
1891
major hurricane
Martinique
1917day.year
A Great Fire in Thessaloniki, Greece, destroys 32% of the city leaving 70,000 individuals homeless.
A catastrophic blaze engulfs Thessaloniki, destroying nearly a third of the city and leaving around 70,000 people homeless.
On August 18, 1917, a devastating fire broke out in Thessaloniki, Greece, rapidly spreading through densely packed wooden structures. The inferno consumed approximately 32% of the city's urban area, destroying homes, businesses, and historic neighborhoods. With limited firefighting resources and strong winds fueling the flames, authorities struggled to contain the blaze. An estimated 70,000 residents were rendered homeless, prompting large-scale relief efforts from the Greek government and international charities. The disaster reshaped the city's architectural landscape as reconstruction favored modern urban planning over the original Ottoman-era layout. To this day, the Great Fire of Thessaloniki remains one of the most significant urban catastrophes in European history.
1917
Great Fire
Thessaloniki
1937day.year
A lightning strike starts the Blackwater Fire of 1937 in Shoshone National Forest, killing 15 firefighters within three days and prompting the United States Forest Service to develop their smokejumper program.
A lightning strike ignites the deadly Blackwater Fire in Shoshone National Forest, prompting a new era in aerial firefighting.
On August 18, 1937, a lightning bolt sparked the Blackwater Fire in Wyoming's Shoshone National Forest. Fueled by dry conditions and rugged terrain, the blaze rapidly overwhelmed ground crews. Within three days, the fire claimed the lives of 15 firefighters, making it one of the deadliest wildland incidents in U.S. history. The tragedy underscored the need for rapid-response tactics and led the U.S. Forest Service to establish the pioneering smokejumper program. By training specialized crews to parachute into remote fires, authorities revolutionized wildfire management and improved firefighter safety. The legacy of the Blackwater Fire endures in modern aerial wildfire suppression strategies.
1937
Blackwater Fire of 1937
Shoshone National Forest
United States Forest Service
smokejumper
1973day.year
Aeroflot Flight A-13 crashes after takeoff from Baku-Bina International Airport in Azerbaijan, killing 56 people and injuring eight.
Aeroflot Flight A-13 tragically crashed shortly after departing Baku, resulting in significant loss of life.
On August 18, 1973, Aeroflot Flight A-13 departed Baku-Bina International Airport in Azerbaijan, bound for Senaki in the Georgian SSR. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced engine trouble and lost altitude rapidly. The crew attempted an emergency return to the airport but crashed in a nearby field. Of the 64 people on board, 56 were killed and eight survived with serious injuries. The Soviet investigation attributed the disaster to mechanical failure exacerbated by pilot error. This accident highlighted challenges in aircraft maintenance and crew training within the Aeroflot fleet. It spurred improvements in safety protocols and inspection procedures across Soviet aviation. The catastrophe remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Azerbaijan's history.
1973
Aeroflot Flight A-13
Baku-Bina International Airport
1983day.year
Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast, killing 21 people and causing over US$1 billion in damage (1983 dollars).
Hurricane Alicia strikes the Texas coast as a Category 3 storm, causing widespread destruction and claiming 21 lives.
Forming in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Alicia intensified rapidly before making landfall near Galveston on August 18, 1983.
With sustained winds exceeding 115 mph, it produced a powerful storm surge that inundated coastal communities.
The hurricane inflicted over $1 billion in damage and left more than 20 people dead.
Alicia was the first major hurricane to impact the Houston area in over two decades, testing emergency preparedness systems.
Its aftermath led to significant improvements in weather forecasting and local evacuation protocols.
1983
Hurricane Alicia
Texas
1993day.year
American International Airways Flight 808 crashes at Leeward Point Field at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, injuring the three crew members.
American International Airways Flight 808 crashes during approach to Leeward Point Field at Guantánamo Bay, injuring all three crew members.
Flight 808, a military-cargo DC-8 aircraft, experienced critical issues as it descended toward Leeward Point Field on August 18, 1993.
The plane crashed upon landing, causing significant damage to the fuselage but fortunately no fatalities.
All three crew members sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.
The incident prompted a thorough investigation into maintenance procedures at military airfields.
Safety protocols were subsequently reviewed to prevent future accidents in sensitive operational zones.
1993
American International Airways Flight 808
Leeward Point Field
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantánamo Bay
Cuba
2005day.year
A massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java; affecting almost 100 million people, it is one of the largest and most widespread power outages in history.
A widespread blackout plunges Java into darkness, affecting nearly 100 million people and marking one of history’s largest power outages.
On August 18, 2005, a failure in the Java-Bali power grid triggered a massive blackout across the Indonesian island of Java.
Essential services, transportation and businesses ground to a halt as people lost electricity for hours.
Hospitals relied on generators to sustain critical care, and emergency crews worked to restore power.
The scale of the outage highlighted vulnerabilities in the national grid infrastructure.
Subsequent investments focused on modernizing equipment and improving system redundancy.
2005
massive power blackout
Indonesian
Java
one of the largest and most widespread