1922day.year
The final act of the Greco-Turkish War, the Great Fire of Smyrna, commences.
The Great Fire of Smyrna erupts, destroying much of the city in the closing chapter of the Greco-Turkish War.
On September 13, 1922, devastating fires broke out in Smyrna (modern-day Izmir) as Turkish forces reclaimed the city following the Greek Army’s retreat. The blaze raged through Greek and Armenian quarters, reducing whole neighborhoods to ashes and leaving thousands homeless. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic as refugees crowded the waterfront hoping to find passage on foreign ships. The exact cause remains contested, with both Turkish and Greek sources accusing each other. The destruction marked a tragic end to the Greco-Turkish War and precipitated a massive population exchange between Greece and Turkey. The Great Fire of Smyrna became a symbol of the region’s turmoil and ethnic tensions after World War I.
1922
Greco-Turkish War
Great Fire of Smyrna
1982day.year
Spantax Flight 995 crashes at Málaga Airport during a rejected takeoff, killing 50 of the 394 people on board.
In 1982, Spantax Flight 995 crashed during an aborted takeoff at Málaga Airport, killing 50 of the 394 people on board.
Spantax Flight 995 was preparing for departure from Málaga Airport on September 13, 1982, when an engine malfunction prompted a rejected takeoff. The aircraft overran the runway and caught fire upon colliding with ground equipment. Rescue crews responded quickly, but thick smoke and flames hindered evacuation efforts. Of the 394 passengers and crew, 50 lost their lives, and many others suffered injuries. Investigators attributed the accident to technical failures and procedural lapses during the emergency. The disaster led to improved safety regulations and emergency response protocols in Spanish aviation.
1982
Spantax Flight 995
Málaga Airport
rejected takeoff
1986day.year
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes Kalamata, Greece with a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), killing at least 20 and causing heavy damage in the city.
On September 13, 1986, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Kalamata, Greece, causing severe damage and at least 20 fatalities.
The 1986 Kalamata earthquake occurred at dawn, registering a magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale and an intensity of X on the Modified Mercalli scale. It destroyed or heavily damaged thousands of buildings, including historic sites in the city center. At least 20 people were killed and hundreds injured as walls and roofs collapsed. Rescue teams worked through rubble and aftershocks to locate survivors and provide medical aid. The disaster prompted national and international relief efforts to supply shelter, food, and reconstruction resources. In the aftermath, Greek authorities implemented stricter building codes to mitigate future earthquake risks.
1986
magnitude 6.0 earthquake
Modified Mercalli intensity
1987day.year
Goiânia accident: A radioactive object is stolen from an abandoned hospital in Goiânia, Brazil, contaminating many people in the following weeks and causing some to die from radiation poisoning.
In 1987, the Goiânia accident in Brazil exposed many to deadly radiation after a stolen radioactive source from an abandoned hospital.
A forgotten radiotherapy device containing cesium-137 was stolen from an abandoned hospital in Goiânia on September 13, 1987. Curiosity led scavengers to open the capsule, spreading glowing blue radioactive powder. Over several weeks, more than 100,000 people were contaminated, and four individuals died from acute radiation syndrome. Authorities conducted one of the largest-ever radiological cleanups, decontaminating thousands of sites and discarding tons of radioactive waste. The tragedy exposed gaps in radioactive material security and emergency response protocols. It also raised global awareness of the dangers of orphan sources and led to strengthened regulations.
1987
Goiânia accident
radioactive
Goiânia
radiation poisoning
1988day.year
Hurricane Gilbert is the strongest recorded hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, later replaced by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 (based on barometric pressure).
Hurricane Gilbert achieved record low barometric pressure in the Western Hemisphere on September 13, 1988, a record that stood until 2005.
Hurricane Gilbert formed in early September 1988 and rapidly intensified over the Caribbean Sea. By September 13, its central pressure dropped to 888 millibars, making it the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record. The storm caused widespread devastation in Jamaica, Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, and Texas, with hundreds of lives lost and billions in damage. Its unmatched intensity highlighted the destructive potential of tropical cyclones. Meteorologists studied Gilbert’s rapid intensification to improve hurricane forecasting models. The record was eventually surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but Gilbert’s legacy endures in storm science and emergency preparedness.
1988
Hurricane Gilbert
Hurricane Wilma
2005
barometric pressure
1997day.year
A German Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 and a United States Air Force Lockheed C-141 Starlifter collide in mid-air near Namibia, killing 33.
A German Air Force Tu-154 and a U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifter collided over Namibia, killing all 33 on board.
On September 13, 1997, a German Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 and a United States Air Force Lockheed C-141 Starlifter collided in mid-air near Namibia.
Both aircraft were conducting transport missions over sparsely populated desert terrain.
The impact was catastrophic, and all 33 crew members aboard both planes died instantly.
Debris scattered across remote areas, complicating rescue and recovery operations.
Investigations focused on flight coordination and air traffic control procedures in the region.
The tragedy led to reviews of multinational military flight safety standards and operational protocols.
1997
German Air Force
Tupolev Tu-154
United States Air Force
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
collide
Namibia