79day.year
Mount Vesuvius begins stirring, on the feast day of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
Mount Vesuvius shows its first signs of unrest on August 23, AD 79, foreshadowing one of history's most famous volcanic eruptions.
On the Feast Day of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, Mount Vesuvius began to rumble beneath its slopes.
The early tremors and gas emissions around Pompeii went largely unnoticed by locals.
This initial activity would escalate over the following days, culminating in the catastrophic eruption that buried cities in ash.
Ancient eyewitness Pliny the Younger wrote of dark clouds and showers of volcanic debris.
The event would later unveil remarkably preserved glimpses of Roman life to archaeologists.
This stirring marked the onset of one of history's most studied natural disasters.
79
Mount Vesuvius
Vulcan
Roman god
1921day.year
British airship R-38 experiences structural failure over Hull in England and crashes in the Humber Estuary; of her 49 British and American training crew, only four survive.
On August 23, 1921, the British airship R-38 broke apart over Hull and crashed into the Humber Estuary, killing 45 of her 49 crew.
The R-38 was one of Britain's largest airships, designed for long-distance patrols.
On 23 August 1921, during a test flight over Hull, the airship experienced a catastrophic structural failure.
The hull buckled in turbulent conditions, sending the craft plummeting into the Humber Estuary.
Of the 49 crew members aboard, including British and American trainees, only four survived the crash.
The disaster led to a major review of rigid airship design and contributed to the decline of airship development in Britain.
It remains one of the worst airship accidents in UK history.
1921
airship R-38
Hull
Humber Estuary
1944day.year
Freckleton air disaster: A United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator bomber crashes into a school in Freckleton, England, killing 61 people.
A USAAF B-24 Liberator crashed into a school at Freckleton, England on August 23, 1944, killing 61 people in one of the UK's worst home-front disasters.
In poor weather and low visibility, the returning B-24 experienced engine trouble on approach to Warton Airfield.
The bomber crashed into St. Luke's School and nearby houses in Freckleton, England.
Sixty-one people, including schoolchildren and teachers, were killed in the impact.
Rescuers faced obstacles from wreckage and wartime resource limitations.
The disaster prompted reviews of flight training and airfield safety measures in the UK.
A memorial was erected in Freckleton, and annual services honor the victims.
It remains one of the deadliest civilian air disasters on British soil.
Freckleton air disaster
United States Army Air Forces
B-24 Liberator
Freckleton
2000day.year
Gulf Air Flight 072 crashes into the Persian Gulf near Manama, Bahrain, killing 143.
Gulf Air Flight 072 crashed into the Persian Gulf near Manama, Bahrain, killing 143 people. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Bahrain’s history.
On August 23, 2000, Gulf Air Flight 072, a Boeing 737 operating from Cairo to Bahrain, crashed into shallow waters off Al Muharraq Island shortly before landing. The crash resulted in the deaths of 143 passengers and crew, making it a catastrophic event for the national carrier. Investigations pointed to pilot error and miscommunication during the final approach amid poor visibility. The accident prompted Gulf Air and other regional airlines to review safety protocols and training programs. Memorials were held in Bahrain and Egypt to honor the victims and support their families. The Flight 072 disaster underscored the importance of stringent safety measures in aviation.
2000
Gulf Air Flight 072
Persian Gulf
Manama, Bahrain
2011day.year
A magnitude 5.8 (class: moderate) earthquake occurs in Virginia. Damage occurs to monuments and structures in Washington, D.C. and the resulted damage is estimated at 200 million–300 million USD.
A rare magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Virginia, damaging Washington, D.C. monuments and costing up to $300 million.
On August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake shook the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, with its epicenter near Mineral, Virginia. The tremor was felt as far north as Canada and as far south as Georgia. In Washington, D.C., several historic monuments and federal buildings sustained damage, including cracks in the Washington Monument. The earthquake was the largest to hit the eastern U.S. in decades, surprising residents unaccustomed to seismic activity. Cleanup and repairs in the capital were swift, but the estimated costs ranged from $200 million to $300 million. The event prompted renewed interest in evaluating and reinforcing seismic safety standards for infrastructure in low-frequency earthquake zones.
2011
earthquake
Virginia
2012day.year
A hot-air balloon crashes near the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, killing six people and injuring 28 others.
A sightseeing hot-air balloon crash near Ljubljana killed six and injured twenty-eight.
On August 23, 2012, a hot-air balloon carrying tourists experienced a sudden drop near Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Witnesses reported unstable weather conditions and rapidly shifting winds at altitude. The balloon hit trees and terrain before collapsing, causing six fatalities among the passengers. Twenty-eight others sustained injuries ranging from fractures to serious head wounds. Emergency responders from multiple agencies conducted a multi-hour rescue and medical evacuation operation. The accident spurred reviews of ballooning safety regulations and weather assessment protocols in Slovenia's tourist industry.
2012
crashes
Ljubljana
2023day.year
A business jet carrying key leadership members of the Russian private military company Wagner Group crashes, killing all ten people on board.
A private jet carrying Wagner Group commanders crashed, killing all ten onboard.
On August 23, 2023, a business jet transporting senior leadership of Russia's Wagner Group went down shortly after takeoff, killing all ten individuals aboard. The aircraft crashed in a remote area, sparking widespread speculation about sabotage or technical failure. Among the deceased were several key figures who had played prominent roles in various conflict zones. The incident had immediate implications for the private military company's operational structure and internal power dynamics. Authorities opened an investigation to determine the cause, considering mechanical issues, pilot error, and foul play. The crash further shrouded the secretive organization in controversy and uncertainty.
Wagner Group
crashes