1634day.year
A gunpowder factory explodes in Valletta, Malta, killing 22 people and damaging several buildings.
A devastating explosion at a Valletta gunpowder factory kills 22 people and damages multiple buildings.
In 1634, a storage magazine at a gunpowder factory in Valletta, Malta, detonated in a catastrophic blast.
The explosion claimed the lives of 22 workers and bystanders, leaving a significant destruction of nearby structures.
Debris from the blast scattered across the city, highlighting the risks of early modern munitions manufacturing.
Authorities responded by relocating volatile materials outside urban centers to reduce future hazards.
The incident underscored the importance of safety measures in military production facilities.
1634
explodes
Valletta
1857day.year
The SS Central America sinks about 160 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, drowning a total of 426 passengers and crew, including Captain William Lewis Herndon. The ship was carrying 13–15 tons of gold from the California gold rush.
The SS Central America sank in a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina in 1857, resulting in the loss of 426 lives and tons of gold from the California Gold Rush.
On September 12, 1857, the SS Central America, nicknamed the 'Ship of Gold,' encountered a devastating hurricane about 160 miles east of Cape Hatteras.
The steamer was carrying 13–15 tons of gold from the California Gold Rush and 426 passengers and crew including Captain William Lewis Herndon.
Severe weather forced the ship to founder, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly all on board.
The disaster contributed to the Panic of 1857, a major financial crisis in the United States.
Modern salvage efforts in the 1980s and 1990s recovered large quantities of gold, reigniting public fascination with the wreck.
1857
SS Central America
Cape Hatteras
North Carolina
William Lewis Herndon
California gold rush
1940day.year
The Hercules Powder plant disaster in the United States kills 51 people and injures over 200.
A devastating explosion at the Hercules Powder Company plant kills 51 workers and injures more than 200 in a major industrial accident.
On September 12, 1940, a massive blast tore through the Hercules Powder Company facility in New Jersey, sending shockwaves across the surrounding area. The explosion claimed 51 lives and left over 200 workers wounded, overwhelming local hospitals and emergency services. Debris and chemical dust clouds forced nearby communities to evacuate. Investigations later identified lapses in explosive powder handling and safety protocols as contributing factors. The tragedy spurred nationwide reforms in industrial safety standards and regulations. Hercules Powder Company conducted a thorough review of its processes and implemented stricter oversight. The disaster remains a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in munitions manufacturing and the importance of workplace safety.
Hercules Powder plant disaster
1961day.year
Air France Flight 2005 crashes near Rabat–Salé Airport, in Rabat, Morocco, killing 77 people.
Air France Flight 2005 crashed near Rabat–Salé Airport amid poor weather, killing all 77 aboard.
On September 12, 1961, Air France Flight 2005, a passenger airliner en route from Casablanca to Paris with a stop in Rabat, crashed into terrain near Rabat–Salé Airport. Heavy rain and low visibility during the final approach caused the aircraft to descend prematurely, striking obstacles outside the runway perimeter. All 77 passengers and crew perished in the accident, making it one of Morocco’s deadliest aviation disasters at the time. The tragedy underscored the perils of flying in adverse weather without advanced navigational aids. In its aftermath, Air France and airport authorities reviewed and strengthened approach procedures and weather briefing protocols. The lessons learned from this crash contributed to significant safety improvements in regional flight operations.
Air France Flight 2005
Rabat–Salé Airport
Rabat
Morocco
1969day.year
Philippine Air Lines Flight 158 crashes in Antipolo, near Manila International Airport in the Philippines, killing 45 people.
Philippine Air Lines Flight 158 crashed near Antipolo amid adverse weather, killing all 45 on board.
On September 12, 1969, Philippine Air Lines Flight 158, operating a domestic service to Manila, crashed into a hillside near Antipolo during its final approach. Heavy rain and low clouds obscured the runway, leading the aircraft to descend below safe altitude. All 45 passengers and crew perished in the accident, making it one of the Philippines’ worst aviation disasters at that time. The tragedy highlighted the critical need for improved weather forecasting and advanced navigational aids at Manila International Airport. In response, regulatory authorities enhanced pilot training for instrument approaches and upgraded airport instrumentation. The lessons from this crash drove reforms that increased safety in Philippine civil aviation for years to come.
1969
Philippine Air Lines Flight 158
Antipolo
Manila International Airport
1988day.year
Hurricane Gilbert devastates Jamaica; it turns towards Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula two days later, causing an estimated $5 billion in damage.
Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 5 storm, devastated Jamaica on September 12, 1988, before striking Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and causing billions in damages.
Hurricane Gilbert formed in the central Atlantic and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane with winds exceeding 185 mph. It made landfall in Jamaica with catastrophic force, destroying homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands. Two days later, Gilbert struck the Yucatán Peninsula, inflicting an estimated $5 billion in damages and leaving thousands homeless. Emergency responders faced challenges due to widespread flooding and downed communications. The storm's intensity set records for pressure readings in the Atlantic basin. Reconstruction efforts took years and led to improved hurricane preparedness measures in the region.
1988
Hurricane Gilbert
Jamaica
Yucatán Peninsula
1994day.year
Frank Eugene Corder fatally crashes a single-engine Cessna 150 into the White House's south lawn, striking the West wing. There were no other casualties.
In an unprecedented incident, Frank Eugene Corder crashed a small Cessna 150 into the South Lawn of the White House.
On September 12, 1994, Frank Eugene Corder piloted a single-engine Cessna 150 and crashed into the South Lawn of the White House.
Investigators concluded the incident was deliberate, though no one else was injured.
The crash damaged the South Lawn and struck the West Wing structure, raising security concerns at the presidential residence.
Secret Service agents and emergency responders quickly secured the area and evacuated officials as a precaution.
The breach prompted a review of aerial security measures and flight restrictions near national landmarks.
Despite the seriousness of the crash, President Clinton and staff resumed activities after initial assessments confirmed structural stability.
The event remains one of the most notable intrusion attempts on the White House grounds.
1994
Frank Eugene Corder
Cessna
White House
2003day.year
Typhoon Maemi, the strongest recorded typhoon to strike South Korea, made landfall near Busan.
Typhoon Maemi, the strongest typhoon recorded in South Korea, made landfall near Busan, causing widespread damage.
Typhoon Maemi, one of the most powerful storms to strike South Korea, made landfall near Busan on September 12, 2003.
With sustained winds exceeding 260 km/h (160 mph), it was the strongest typhoon recorded in the country.
Maemi caused devastating damage to infrastructure, uprooting trees and downing power lines across multiple provinces.
The storm surge flooded coastal areas, displacing thousands and destroying homes along the shoreline.
Emergency services conducted search and rescue operations amid widespread communication outages.
Official estimates recorded dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries in South Korea.
The aftermath prompted reviews of meteorological warning systems and disaster preparedness protocols.
Typhoon Maemi
Busan
2007day.year
Two earthquakes measuring 8.4 and 7.9 on the Richter Scale hits the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing 25 people and injuring 161.
Two powerful earthquakes struck off Sumatra’s coast, causing dozens of casualties and widespread damage.
On September 12, 2007, two powerful earthquakes struck off the west coast of Sumatra.
The tremors measured 8.4 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, triggering tsunami warnings in the region.
The seismic events killed 25 people and injured over 160, primarily in coastal communities.
Buildings and roads suffered damage, complicating rescue and relief efforts amid aftershocks.
Local authorities and international aid organizations mobilized to provide medical care and shelter.
Scientists studied the quakes to better understand stress accumulation along the Sunda megathrust fault.
The incident highlighted Indonesia’s vulnerability to major seismic hazards and the need for preparedness.
Two earthquakes measuring 8.4 and 7.9
Richter Scale
Indonesian
Sumatra
2008day.year
The 2008 Chatsworth train collision in Los Angeles between a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train kills 25 people.
A Metrolink commuter train collided with a freight train in Chatsworth, California, killing 25 people.
On September 12, 2008, a Metrolink commuter train collided head-on with a Union Pacific freight train in Chatsworth, California.
The crash killed 25 people and injured over 100, making it one of the deadliest rail accidents in U.S. history.
Investigators found that the Metrolink engineer failed to stop at a red signal due to distraction.
Safety advocates cited the incident as a catalyst for implementing Positive Train Control technology.
Metrolink services were disrupted for days, and thorough investigations led to revised operating procedures.
Memorials and fundraisers supported victims’ families in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Chatsworth collision prompted nationwide reviews of rail safety regulations and crew training standards.
2008
2008 Chatsworth train collision
Metrolink
Union Pacific
2012day.year
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Flight 251 crashes on approach to Palana Airport, killing 10 and injuring four.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Flight 251 crashed while approaching Palana Airport, resulting in 10 fatalities and 4 injuries.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Flight 251 was operating a domestic service from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. On September 12, 2012, the twin-engine turboprop descended below the minimum safe altitude during its final approach in poor weather and collided with a wooded hillside. Of the 14 people on board, 10 were killed and four others were injured. Rescue teams navigated challenging terrain to reach the remote crash site and transport survivors to local hospitals. An investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee cited pilot error and inadequate terrain awareness in low visibility as contributing factors, leading to recommendations for improved navigational aids in the region.
2012
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Flight 251
Palana Airport
2014day.year
Synagogue Church building collapse saw the deaths of 115 people and several injured, in the Church run by Nigeria's, T. B. Joshua.
A guesthouse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos collapsed, killing 115 people and injuring many.
On September 12, 2014, a three-story guesthouse attached to the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria, collapsed during a Sunday service. The building, part of the ministry led by televangelist T. B. Joshua, was crowded with worshippers from across the country. Local authorities and volunteers conducted rescue operations into the night, searching for survivors and recovering victims from the rubble. At least 115 individuals lost their lives and numerous others sustained injuries in the tragedy. Structural investigators examined potential design flaws and unauthorized building modifications. The incident sparked national debate over church building safety standards and regulatory enforcement. It remains one of the deadliest structural failures in Nigeria’s recent history.
2014
Synagogue Church building collapse
Nigeria
T. B. Joshua