1847day.year
The passenger ship Stephen Whitney is wrecked in thick fog off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 92 of the 110 on board. The disaster results in the construction of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse.
In 1847, the passenger ship Stephen Whitney sank off Ireland in thick fog, killing 92 and prompting the construction of Fastnet Rock lighthouse.
The Stephen Whitney became trapped in dense fog off the southern coast of Ireland and struck rocks near Fastnet Rock in November 1847. Of the 110 people onboard, 92 perished in the disaster, making it one of the deadliest maritime tragedies of the era. Public outcry over the loss of life drove authorities to improve coastal safety. Plans for the Fastnet Rock lighthouse were fast-tracked to guide ships away from the hazardous reef. Completed in 1854, the lighthouse stands as a lasting monument to the lives lost and the advances in navigational safety it inspired.
1847
Stephen Whitney
Fastnet Rock lighthouse
1940day.year
The 1940 Vrancea earthquake strikes Romania killing an estimated 1,000 and injuring approximately 4,000 more.
The powerful 1940 Vrancea earthquake shakes Romania, causing widespread devastation and thousands of casualties.
On November 10, 1940, the Vrancea seismic zone in Romania experienced a powerful earthquake.
The temblor inflicted severe damage on buildings in Bucharest and nearby towns.
Approximately 1,000 people lost their lives and an additional 4,000 were injured.
Infrastructure such as roads and bridges suffered heavy damage, hampering relief efforts.
The disaster prompted improvements in Romania's seismic monitoring and building codes.
1940
1940 Vrancea earthquake
Romania
1944day.year
The ammunition ship USS Mount Hood explodes at Seeadler Harbour, Manus, Admiralty Islands, killing at least 432 and wounding 371.
An accidental detonation aboard USS Mount Hood in Manus kills at least 432 personnel and injures 371 during WWII.
On November 10, 1944, the US Navy ammunition ship USS Mount Hood exploded while anchored at Seeadler Harbour.
The blast leveled nearby ships and infrastructure within a 1,000-yard radius.
More than 432 sailors and dock workers perished instantly, and 371 others suffered severe injuries.
Investigations suggested a premature detonation of the ship's ordnance cargo.
The tragedy underscored the dangers of handling large munitions and led to stricter naval safety protocols.
1944
USS Mount Hood
Manus
Admiralty Islands
1946day.year
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Peruvian Andes mountains kills at least 1,400 people.
A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Peruvian Andes kills over 1,400 people and causes extensive damage in remote mountain communities.
On November 10, 1946, the central Andes region of Peru was struck by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
Remote villages and mining towns bore the brunt of the devastation, with poorly constructed buildings collapsing.
At least 1,400 lives were lost, and countless survivors were left homeless in high-altitude settlements.
Aftershocks and landslides hindered rescue operations in the rugged terrain.
The disaster highlighted the need for improved earthquake-resistant construction in seismically active regions.
1946
magnitude 6.9 earthquake
1971day.year
A Merpati Nusantara Airlines Vickers Viscount crashes into the Indian Ocean near Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, killing all 69 people on board.
A Merpati Nusantara Airlines Vickers Viscount crashed into the Indian Ocean near Padang, Indonesia on November 10, 1971, killing all 69 aboard.
On November 10, 1971, Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight encountered disaster during its approach to Padang in West Sumatra. The Vickers Viscount plunged into the Indian Ocean, claiming the lives of all 69 passengers and crew. Limited information about the flight’s final moments complicated search and rescue efforts. The tragedy remains one of Indonesia’s deadliest aviation accidents. It prompted reviews of regional flight safety and navigation procedures in challenging coastal environments.
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Vickers Viscount
crashes
Indian Ocean
Padang
West Sumatra
Indonesia
1972day.year
Southern Airways Flight 49 from Birmingham, Alabama is hijacked and, at one point, is threatened with crashing into the nuclear installation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After two days, the plane lands in Havana, Cuba, where the hijackers are jailed by Fidel Castro.
In November 1972, Southern Airways Flight 49 was hijacked, threatened to crash into a nuclear facility, and eventually landed in Cuba where the hijackers were jailed.
On November 10, 1972, Southern Airways Flight 49 departed Birmingham, Alabama and was seized by armed hijackers. They threatened to crash the aircraft into the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a key nuclear research site. After a two-day standoff, the plane was redirected to Havana, Cuba, where Fidel Castro’s government detained the perpetrators. The crisis highlighted vulnerabilities in aviation security and led to tightened anti-hijacking regulations. It also tested diplomatic relations during the Cold War as the United States negotiated the safe release of passengers and crew.
1972
Southern Airways
Flight 49
Birmingham, Alabama
hijacked
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Havana
Cuba
Fidel Castro
1975day.year
The 729-foot-long freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinks during a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew on board.
On November 10, 1975, the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm on Lake Superior, and all 29 crew members were lost.
During a fierce November storm in 1975, the American Great Lakes freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald encountered extreme winds and waves on Lake Superior. Despite distress calls, the 729-foot vessel sank suddenly, leaving no survivors among its 29-member crew. The ship’s disappearance became one of the most famous maritime mysteries, inspiring investigations and Gordon Lightfoot’s well-known ballad. Adverse weather, possible structural failure, and water ingress were cited as contributing factors. The tragedy led to improvements in Great Lakes shipping safety standards and real-time weather monitoring systems.
1975
SS Edmund Fitzgerald
Lake Superior
1979day.year
A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, Ontario.
On November 10, 1979, a Canadian Pacific freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in Mississauga, Ontario, prompting a massive evacuation.
In November 1979, a 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train derailed near Mississauga, Ontario, spilling explosive and toxic chemicals. Fearing a catastrophic explosion, authorities ordered the evacuation of over 200,000 residents, making it one of the largest peacetime evacuations in North American history. Emergency services worked for days to safely remove tank cars, vent dangerous gases, and control fires. The incident spurred reforms in rail safety regulations and hazardous material handling. Mississauga’s successful response is still studied as a model of community preparedness and crisis management.
1979
Canadian Pacific
Windsor, Ontario
derails
Mississauga
1985day.year
A Dassault Falcon 50 and a Piper PA-28 Cherokee collide in mid-air over Fairview, New Jersey, killing six people and injuring eight.
In 1985, a Dassault Falcon 50 and a Piper PA-28 Cherokee collided mid-air over Fairview, New Jersey, resulting in six fatalities and eight injuries.
On November 10, 1985, a Dassault Falcon 50 business jet and a Piper PA-28 Cherokee light aircraft collided in mid-air over Fairview, New Jersey. The tragic accident caused six people to lose their lives and left eight others injured. A subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed lapses in air traffic coordination and communication. Recommendations from the inquiry led to revised safety procedures for both private and commercial flights. The incident remains one of the most serious mid-air collisions in U.S. aviation history.
1985
Dassault Falcon 50
Piper PA-28 Cherokee
collide
Fairview, New Jersey
2002day.year
Veteran's Day Weekend Tornado Outbreak: A tornado outbreak stretching from Northern Ohio to the Gulf Coast, one of the largest outbreaks recorded in November.
A powerful tornado outbreak raged from Northern Ohio to the Gulf Coast in 2002, marking one of the largest November outbreaks on record.
During Veteran's Day Weekend of November 10–11, 2002, a series of severe thunderstorms spawned over 50 tornadoes across multiple states. The outbreak affected areas from northern Ohio through the Gulf Coast, causing widespread destruction. Numerous communities experienced significant property damage, and several lives were lost. Meteorologists classified it as one of the most extensive November outbreaks in U.S. history. The event prompted improvements in early warning systems and public awareness campaigns. Emergency response agencies reviewed procedures to better coordinate relief efforts for future severe weather events.
2002
Veteran's Day Weekend Tornado Outbreak
Ohio