856day.year
Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
A devastating earthquake strikes near Damghan in 856, claiming around 200,000 lives and ranking among history’s deadliest tremors.
On December 22, 856, a catastrophic earthquake devastated the region around the city of Damghan in present-day Iran.
Modern estimates place the death toll at approximately 200,000, making it the sixth deadliest seismic event on record.
The quake destroyed cities, villages, and critical irrigation systems that sustained local agriculture.
Slow governmental response and difficult terrain hampered rescue and relief efforts, exacerbating human suffering.
Contemporary chroniclers described the earth opening and swallowing entire communities.
The disaster prompted early discussions on urban planning and construction methods to mitigate earthquake damage.
856
Damghan earthquake
Damghan
1851day.year
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., burns.
On December 22, 1851, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., was devastated by a catastrophic fire.
Late in the evening of December 22, 1851, a fire broke out in the Library of Congress reading room. Flames consumed thousands of books, maps, and newspapers in a matter of hours. The blaze left the young institution largely destroyed just a few years after its founding. Librarians and staff could only salvage a small fraction of the collection. Congress responded by allocating funds to rebuild and expand the library. The tragedy underscored the need for better fireproofing and preservation strategies. Subsequent surviving volumes formed the core of what would become the world’s largest library. This fire remains one of the early defining challenges in American archival history.
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
1906day.year
An Mw 7.9 earthquake strikes Xinjiang, China, killing at least 280.
A powerful Mw 7.9 earthquake devastates Xinjiang, China, killing at least 280 people and leaving communities in shock.
On December 22, 1906, a massive magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Xinjiang region of China.
It triggered widespread destruction across remote communities, toppling buildings and damaging infrastructure.
At least 280 people lost their lives, with many more injured and displaced.
The region's rugged terrain hampered relief efforts, prolonging suffering among survivors.
News of the quake spread slowly due to limited communications, delaying international aid.
This catastrophic event remains one of the deadliest earthquakes in China's early 20th-century history.
1906
7.9 earthquake strikes Xinjiang
1963day.year
The cruise ship Lakonia burns 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives.
The cruise ship Lakonia caught fire north of Madeira, resulting in 128 fatalities.
On December 22, 1963, the cruise ship Lakonia caught fire approximately 290 kilometres north of Madeira, Portugal. The blaze started in the engine room and rapidly spread through multiple decks amid heavy seas. Despite extensive firefighting efforts by the crew, the fire could not be contained. Rescue operations involving Portuguese and British vessels, as well as helicopters from the Portuguese Air Force, evacuated survivors. Tragically, 128 passengers and crew members lost their lives in one of the worst maritime disasters in the Atlantic. The incident prompted a major inquiry into shipboard fire safety and led to tighter regulations for passenger vessels.
1963
cruise ship
Lakonia
Madeira
1973day.year
A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, killing 106.
A Royal Air Maroc Caravelle crashed on approach to Tangier-Boukhalef Airport, killing 106 people.
On December 22, 1973, a Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashed during its final approach to Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Morocco. The aircraft descended prematurely in poor weather conditions and struck terrain near the runway. Of those on board, 106 passengers and crew tragically lost their lives. Rescue efforts were hampered by the remote crash site and adverse weather. The accident prompted investigations into Caravelle operational procedures and approach protocols under challenging conditions. Royal Air Maroc and aviation authorities subsequently reviewed safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.
1973
Royal Air Maroc
Sud Aviation Caravelle
crashes
Tangier-Boukhalef Airport
Tangier
Morocco
1992day.year
During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people.
On December 22, 1992, Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collided mid-air with a Libyan Air Force MiG-23 near Tripoli, killing all 157 people aboard the civilian Boeing 727.
As Flight 1103 approached Tripoli International Airport, it intersected with a military MiG-23 fighter jet on a training mission. The high-speed collision caused the Boeing 727 to lose control and crash into a desert area outside the city. All 157 passengers and crew aboard the civilian airliner perished, making it one of Libya’s deadliest aviation disasters. The Libyan government initially attributed the crash to mechanical failure, though foreign investigators suggested pilot error and air traffic miscommunication. The tragedy prompted reviews of military and civilian flight coordination and led to stricter airspace separation protocols in Libya.
1992
Tripoli International Airport
Boeing 727
Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103
Libyan Air Force
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
1996day.year
Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board.
On December 22, 1996, Airborne Express Flight 827 crashed shortly after takeoff from Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board.
Flight 827, a cargo aircraft operating under Airborne Express, encountered engine difficulties moments after departure. The plane failed to gain altitude and crashed into a wooded area near Narrows, Virginia. All three crew members and three couriers aboard were killed instantly. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation pointed to maintenance lapses and mechanical failure as primary causes. The accident led to enhanced safety inspections and stricter maintenance protocols for cargo operators in the United States.
1996
Airborne Express Flight 827
Narrows, Virginia
1999day.year
Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board.
Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury minutes after takeoff, killing all crew members on board.
Moments after departing London Stansted Airport on December 22, 1999, Flight 8509 encountered critical problems and plunged into Hatfield Forest.
All four crew members aboard the cargo flight lost their lives in the impact, and investigators faced challenging terrain to reach the crash site.
The tragedy spurred a thorough probe into aircraft maintenance practices and flight safety procedures.
Rescue teams navigated dense woodland to recover wreckage and analyze cockpit recordings.
Subsequent safety recommendations led to enhanced cargo flight protocols and emergency response measures.
1999
London Stansted Airport
Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509
Hatfield Forest
Great Hallingbury
2008day.year
An ash dike ruptured at a solid waste containment area for a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 4.2 million m (1.1 billion US gal) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in U.S. history.
A containment dike breach at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant releases over a billion gallons of coal ash slurry in Tennessee, the largest U.S. industrial spill.
On December 22, 2008, an ash dike at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County failed catastrophically.
More than 4.2 million cubic meters of coal fly ash slurry inundated surrounding valleys, covering over 300 acres in toxic sludge.
The spill contaminated rivers and groundwater, threatening wildlife and nearby communities.
Cleanup efforts spanned several years and cost over one billion dollars, sparking nationwide discussions on coal ash regulations.
This environmental disaster prompted stricter oversight of industrial waste containment practices.
2008
ruptured
Tennessee Valley Authority
coal-fired power plant
Roane County, Tennessee
coal
fly ash
slurry
2018day.year
A tsunami caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia kills at least 430 people and injures almost a thousand more.
On December 22, 2018, a powerful tsunami triggered by an underwater eruption of Anak Krakatau struck coastal villages in Indonesia, killing over 430 people and injuring nearly a thousand.
On the evening of December 22, 2018, the Anak Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait erupted, causing a massive underwater landslide that generated tsunami waves up to five meters high. Coastal communities on Java and Sumatra were caught off guard, as no tsunami warning was issued. The disaster claimed at least 433 lives and injured over 1,000 people, while hundreds more were displaced. Entire villages were inundated, destroying homes, boats, and shoreline infrastructure. Rescue efforts were hampered by darkness and damaged roads, delaying aid delivery. The event highlighted the dangers of submarine volcanic activity and prompted calls for improved early warning systems across the region.
2018
tsunami
Anak Krakatau