1883day.year
An F5 tornado strikes Rochester, Minnesota, leading to the creation of the Mayo Clinic.
In 1883, an F5 tornado devastated Rochester, Minnesota, leading to the founding of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.
On August 21, 1883, a powerful F5 tornado tore through Rochester, destroying much of the city and causing over 30 fatalities. The disaster overwhelmed local medical facilities, prompting community leaders to seek assistance. Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his sons, William James Mayo and Charles Horace Mayo, collaborated with the Sisters of Saint Francis to treat the injured. Their efforts highlighted the need for a dedicated hospital equipped to handle large-scale emergencies. Supported by local fundraising, Saint Marys Hospital opened in 1889 and evolved into the Mayo Clinic. Today, the Mayo Clinic is a global leader in medical research, education, and patient care, with its origins rooted in the response to this tragic tornado.
1883
An F5 tornado
Rochester, Minnesota
Mayo Clinic
1945day.year
Physicist Harry Daghlian is fatally irradiated in a criticality accident during an experiment with the Demon core at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Harry Daghlian suffered a fatal radiation accident during a criticality experiment with the Demon core at Los Alamos in 1945.
Physicist Harry Daghlian was conducting a plutonium criticality experiment on the Demon core at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
On August 21, 1945, a lapse in protocol caused a reflector brick to slip, triggering an uncontrolled neutron chain reaction.
Daghlian received a massive dose of radiation while attempting to halt the reaction and collapsed soon after.
He endured severe radiation burns and died 25 days later, becoming the first casualty of a criticality accident.
The incident led to the implementation of stricter safety procedures and remote-handling techniques.
Daghlian's sacrifice highlighted the grave risks inherent in early nuclear research and shaped laboratory protocols worldwide.
1945
Harry Daghlian
criticality accident
Demon core
Los Alamos National Laboratory
1986day.year
Carbon dioxide gas erupts from volcanic Lake Nyos in Cameroon, killing up to 1,800 people within a 20-kilometre (12 mi) range.
A sudden carbon dioxide gas eruption from Lake Nyos in Cameroon kills up to 1,800 people.
On the night of August 21, 1986, a massive release of carbon dioxide from Lake Nyos descended upon nearby villages in Cameroon. The dense gas hugged the ground, suffocating people and livestock without warning. Estimates of the death toll range up to 1,800 within a 20-kilometre radius of the lake. Scientists later identified a limnic eruption as the cause, a rare phenomenon where dissolved gas violently erupts from deep lake waters. The disaster prompted international research into preventing similar events at volcanic lakes. Lake Nyos remains monitored to mitigate future gas buildups and protect local communities.
1986
volcanic
Lake Nyos
Cameroon
1988day.year
The 6.9 Mw Nepal earthquake shakes the Nepal–India border with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), leaving 709–1,450 people killed and thousands injured.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes the Nepal–India border, causing extensive damage and hundreds of fatalities.
On August 21, 1988, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck near the Nepal–India border. The tremor registered a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII, classified as severe. The quake destroyed homes, roads, and infrastructure across the region. Casualties numbered between 709 and 1,450 people, with thousands more injured. Remote mountain villages were particularly hard hit, complicating rescue and relief efforts. The disaster led to improved seismic monitoring and building codes in Nepal and northern India.
1988
Nepal earthquake
Mercalli intensity
1994day.year
Royal Air Maroc Flight 630 crashes in Douar Izounine, Morocco, killing all 44 people on board.
Royal Air Maroc Flight 630 crashes near Douar Izounine, Morocco, killing all 44 on board.
On August 21, 1994, Royal Air Maroc Flight 630 crashed shortly after takeoff from Agadir–Al Massira Airport. The aircraft went down in the Douar Izounine area, killing all 44 passengers and crew. Initial investigations pointed to a possible in-flight emergency, though final conclusions remained unclear. The accident prompted reviews of safety procedures within the airline and Moroccan aviation authorities. Families of the victims demanded answers about the causes and accountability. This tragedy remains one of Morocco's deadliest aviation accidents to date.
1994
Royal Air Maroc Flight 630
Morocco
1995day.year
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529, an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, attempts to divert to West Georgia Regional Airport after the left engine fails, but the aircraft crashes in Carroll County near Carrollton, Georgia, killing nine of the 29 people on board.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 crashes near Carrollton, Georgia, after an engine failure, resulting in nine fatalities.
On August 21, 1995, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 suffered a catastrophic left engine failure shortly after departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The crew attempted to divert to West Georgia Regional Airport, but the aircraft crashed in Carroll County near Carrollton, Georgia. Nine of the 29 people on board lost their lives, while the remainder survived with varying injuries. Investigators determined a cracked turbine engine blade as the root cause. The accident led to enhanced inspection protocols for regional airline engines. Flight 529 remains a case study in emergency response and mechanical integrity in aviation safety.
1995
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529
Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
West Georgia Regional Airport
Carroll County
Carrollton, Georgia