1575day.year
An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw strikes Valdivia, Chile.
A major earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5 strikes near Valdivia in southern Chile, causing widespread damage.
On December 16, 1575, a powerful earthquake estimated at magnitude 8.5Mw shook the region around Valdivia in southern Chile. The seismic event devastated Spanish colonial settlements and indigenous communities along the shore. The shaking triggered landslides and coastal subsidence, which generated tsunamis impacting the Pacific coastline. Contemporary chroniclers recorded the destruction of churches, fortifications, and wooden structures. Reconstruction efforts were hampered by the remote location and limited colonial resources. The disaster influenced seismic studies and colonial disaster preparedness in South America. While instrument records were unavailable, the 1575 Valdivia earthquake remains one of the largest known pre-instrumental quakes. It served as an early reminder of the seismic risks facing the Pacific Rim.
1575
An earthquake
1811day.year
The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.
On December 16, 1811, two massive earthquakes struck near New Madrid, Missouri, marking the beginning of one of the largest seismic sequences in U.S. history.
At dawn on December 16, 1811, the New Madrid region in the central Mississippi Valley experienced two massive earthquakes. These shocks, estimated at magnitudes between 7.5 and 7.9, kicked off one of the largest seismic sequences ever recorded in the continental United States. The quakes were powerful enough to reverse the flow of the Mississippi River and create Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. Witnesses reported church bells ringing in distant states and ground fissures opening for miles. Throughout early 1812, aftershocks continued to shake the region, disrupting settlements and unsettling Native American communities. Despite its remote location, the New Madrid seismic zone remains a reminder of the United States’ hidden earthquake risk.
1811
The first two in a series
earthquakes
New Madrid, Missouri
1920day.year
The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw , rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000.
The devastating 1920 Haiyuan earthquake in Gansu, China, claimed around 200,000 lives.
Shortly after midnight on December 16, 1920, a magnitude 8.5 Mw earthquake struck Haiyuan County in Gansu province, China. The quake triggered massive landslides that buried entire villages under earth and debris. Traditional earthen homes collapsed en masse, leading to catastrophic loss of life during freezing winter conditions. Rescue efforts were hampered by the remote, mountainous terrain and lack of roads, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The disaster remains one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history, prompting advances in seismic research and improvements to building practices in China.
1920
Haiyuan earthquake
Gansu
1951day.year
A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby.
A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashed in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1951, killing all 58 aboard.
On December 16, 1951, Miami Airlines Flight 61, operated by a Curtiss C-46 Commando, crashed shortly after takeoff from Newark Airport amid a snow squall. The aircraft lost control and collided with a residential block in Elizabeth, New Jersey, triggering a devastating fire. All 58 passengers and crew perished, including prominent dancer Doris Ruby. Local firefighters faced treacherous conditions as flames spread through nearby homes. Investigators later attributed the crash to wing icing and inadequate deicing procedures, prompting reforms in winter flight operations and safety protocols.
1951
Curtiss C-46 Commando
crashes
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Doris Ruby
1960day.year
A United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground.
In 1960, a mid-air collision over Staten Island between United Air Lines and TWA jets killed 134 people.
On December 16, 1960, a United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collided over Staten Island, New York, in clear weather conditions. The catastrophic mid-air impact caused both aircraft to disintegrate, raining debris onto residential neighborhoods below. All 128 passengers and crew aboard the two flights were killed, and six residents on the ground also lost their lives. The disaster shocked the aviation community and led to urgent reviews of air traffic control procedures. Its legacy includes major reforms in radar monitoring, communication protocols, and the development of early collision-avoidance systems.
1960
United Air Lines
TWA
collide
Staten Island
New York
1973day.year
Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashes in the Soviet Union's (now Russia) Volokolamsky District, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors.
Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashed in the Volokolamsky District of the Soviet Union on December 16, 1973, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors.
Flight 2022 was a scheduled domestic passenger service operated by Aeroflot within the Soviet Union. On December 16, 1973, the aircraft descended into the forested terrain of Volokolamsky District, tragically killing all 51 passengers and crew. Among the victims were four prominent Lithuanian doctors traveling for a medical conference. The Soviet authorities launched an official investigation, attributing the crash to adverse weather and potential mechanical failure. The accident prompted calls for improved air traffic control and safety measures across Soviet civil aviation.
1973
Aeroflot Flight 2022
Volokolamsky District
2013day.year
A bus falls from an elevated highway in the Philippines capital Manila killing at least 18 people with 20 injured.
A passenger bus plunged from an elevated highway in Manila on December 16, 2013, killing at least 18 people and injuring 20 others.
The bus lost control while navigating a curve on a busy elevated expressway, plunging several meters to the street below. Emergency responders rushed to the scene amid chaotic traffic and heavy rainfall. Victims were trapped under the wreckage, requiring specialized rescue teams to extricate them safely. Authorities launched an investigation into the driver’s condition and vehicle maintenance records. The tragedy spurred calls for stricter safety inspections and improved public transit regulations in the Philippines.
2013
bus falls
Manila
2022day.year
A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm near the town of Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia, trapping 92 people and killing 31.
In 2022, a massive landslide at an organic farm camp near Batang Kali, Selangor, Malaysia, claimed 31 lives and trapped dozens.
On December 16, 2022, heavy rains triggered a devastating landslide at a camp on an organic farm near Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia.
Mud and debris swept through the campsite, killing 31 people and trapping 92 others.
Rescue teams from local villages and the military raced against time to locate survivors.
The remote and unstable terrain hampered search efforts and highlighted risks in landslide-prone areas.
Authorities later reviewed land-use regulations and emergency response plans to prevent similar tragedies.
Families and communities mourned the loss as they called for better early warning systems and safety measures.
This event underscored the power of nature and the importance of preparedness in vulnerable regions.
2022
A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm
Batang Kali
Selangor