1903day.year
Topsy, an elephant, is electrocuted by the owners of Luna Park, Coney Island. The Edison film company records the film Electrocuting an Elephant of Topsy's death.
At Coney Island's Luna Park in 1903, circus elephant Topsy was executed by electrocution, filmed by Edison.
In a controversial spectacle on January 4, 1903, Topsy the elephant was publicly electrocuted at Luna Park, Coney Island.
The event was staged by the park’s owners and recorded by the Edison Manufacturing Company in the film "Electrocuting an Elephant."
Topsy, labeled a dangerous elephant after a series of incidents, was condemned as a warning to other animals.
This grim attraction highlighted ethical debates over animal rights and the sensationalism of early amusement parks.
Today, the film remains a haunting artifact of early cinema and a reminder of past cruelty toward performing animals.
1903
Topsy
elephant
Luna Park, Coney Island
Edison film company
Electrocuting an Elephant
1946day.year
The first day of a three-day "disastrous" tornado outbreak across the south-central United States leaves 41 people dead and at least 412 others injured.
On January 4, 1946, a severe tornado outbreak struck the south-central United States, killing 41 people and injuring over 400.
The first day of a three-day tornado outbreak on January 4, 1946, produced devastating twisters across Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. Violent storms tore through farmland and towns, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. The fierce winds and flying debris claimed 41 lives and left at least 412 people wounded. Local hospitals and rescue teams were overwhelmed by the scale of destruction and the urgent need for aid. Eyewitnesses recalled houses being swept off foundations and vehicles tossed through the air. The disaster spurred advancements in weather forecasting and tornado warning systems. Communities banded together to clear debris, rebuild homes, and memorialize those lost.
1946
three-day "disastrous" tornado outbreak
1965day.year
Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20 crashes on approach to Alma-Ata Airport, killing 64 people.
On January 4, 1965, Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20 crashed on approach to Alma-Ata Airport, killing 64 people aboard.
Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20, operating a domestic route within the Soviet Union, encountered poor weather and visibility while approaching Alma-Ata Airport on January 4, 1965. The crew lost altitude control amid heavy snowfall and clouds, causing the aircraft to descend below the safe glide path. The plane struck terrain before the runway threshold, resulting in a catastrophic crash that claimed 64 lives. Investigators cited pilot disorientation and inadequate instrumentation as critical factors. The tragedy highlighted the need for improved navigation aids and stricter weather-related regulations. Local rescue teams faced harsh winter conditions during recovery operations. The accident prompted Soviet aviation authorities to enhance approach protocols and train crews for adverse conditions.
1965
Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20
Alma-Ata Airport
1987day.year
The Maryland train collision: An Amtrak train en route to Boston from Washington, D.C., collides with Conrail engines in Chase, Maryland, United States, killing 16 people.
In 1987, an Amtrak train bound for Boston collided head-on with Conrail engines near Chase, Maryland, resulting in 16 fatalities.
On January 4, 1987, an Amtrak train traveling from Washington, D.C. to Boston crashed into Conrail locomotives near Chase, Maryland. The high-speed impact caused severe damage to both trains and led to the tragic loss of 16 lives, with many others seriously injured. Rescue teams battled freezing temperatures to reach survivors and recover the deceased. The accident prompted investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board into signal and communication failures. Findings from the inquiry led to safety improvements in rail operations and stricter protocols for handling freight and passenger services on shared tracks.
1987
Maryland train collision
Amtrak
Boston
Conrail
Chase, Maryland
1990day.year
In Pakistan's deadliest train accident an overloaded passenger train collides with an empty freight train, resulting in 307 deaths and 700 injuries.
An overloaded passenger train in Pakistan collided with an empty freight train in 1990, causing 307 fatalities and over 700 injuries.
On January 4, 1990, Pakistan experienced its deadliest rail disaster when an overcrowded passenger train rammed into an empty freight train. The impact occurred on a single-track section, amplifying the danger posed by overcrowding during holiday travel. With 307 lives lost and around 700 injured, the accident prompted nationwide mourning and criticism of railway safety standards. Emergency crews struggled to reach the remote crash site and provide aid to survivors. The tragedy led to calls for improved signaling systems and better crowd management on trains.
1990
collides with an empty freight train
1998day.year
A massive ice storm hits eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, continuing through January 10 and causing widespread destruction.
From January 4 to 10, 1998, a massive ice storm battered eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Beginning on January 4, 1998, a prolonged ice storm coated landscapes from eastern Canada to the northeastern United States in thick sheets of ice. Accumulations exceeded 50 millimeters in some areas, bringing down power lines, snapping tree branches, and crippling transportation networks. Millions of residents faced dark, freezing conditions without electricity for days. Emergency services struggled to clear roads and restore power amid continuing freezing rain. The storm prompted governments to invest in improved weather monitoring and emergency response protocols. Its legacy remains a stark reminder of the power of extreme winter weather.
1998
A massive ice storm
January 10
2000day.year
A Norwegian passenger train departing from Trondheim, collides with a local train coming from Hamar in Åsta in Åmot Municipality; 19 people are killed and 68 injured in the accident.
In 2000, a passenger train from Trondheim collided head-on with a local train near Åsta in Norway, resulting in 19 deaths and dozens injured.
On January 4, 2000, a passenger express train traveling from Trondheim collided with a local service arriving from Hamar on a single-track section near Åsta in Åmot Municipality. The head-on crash claimed 19 lives and injured 68 passengers in one of Norway’s worst rail disasters. Investigators attributed the accident to a signaling oversight and the absence of centralized traffic control on that section. Rescue operations were hampered by winter weather and remote terrain. The tragedy spurred the Norwegian State Railways to accelerate safety upgrades and implement automated train control systems.
2000
Trondheim
collides with a local train
Hamar
Åsta
Åmot Municipality
2008day.year
A Let L-410 Turbolet crashes in the Los Roques Archipelago in Venezuela, killing 14 people.
In 2008, a Let L-410 Turbolet commuter plane crashed into the Los Roques Archipelago off Venezuela, killing all 14 people on board.
On January 4, 2008, a Let L-410 Turbolet commuter aircraft crashed into the coral islands of the Los Roques Archipelago in Venezuela. The plane, carrying 14 passengers and crew, encountered severe weather shortly after takeoff and went down in a remote maritime area. Harsh conditions and the isolated location hampered rescue efforts for hours. All 14 people on board tragically lost their lives in the accident. The crash spurred investigations into maintenance practices and flight planning for regional carriers. It also highlighted the challenges of operating small aircraft in archipelagic environments.
2008
Let L-410 Turbolet
crashes
Los Roques Archipelago
Venezuela
2018day.year
Hennenman–Kroonstad train crash: A passenger train operated by Shosholoza Meyl collides with a truck on a level crossing at Geneva Station between Hennenman and Kroonstad, Free State, South Africa. Twenty people are killed and 260 injured.
In 2018, a Shosholoza Meyl passenger train collided with a truck at a level crossing between Hennenman and Kroonstad in South Africa, killing 20 and injuring 260.
On January 4, 2018, a passenger train operated by Shosholoza Meyl struck a truck on a level crossing at Geneva Station between Hennenman and Kroonstad in South Africa’s Free State province. The collision derailed several carriages and caused extensive damage. Twenty passengers lost their lives in the crash, and 260 others sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical. Rescue teams from the South African Police Service, paramedics, and local volunteers worked through the night to reach survivors. Investigators examined whether signal failures or human error at the crossing contributed to the disaster. The tragedy prompted calls for improved railway safety measures, including upgraded crossings and enhanced training for rail staff.
2018
Hennenman–Kroonstad train crash
Shosholoza Meyl
Hennenman
Kroonstad
2019day.year
A fire in an escape room in Koszalin, Poland, kills five teenagers through carbon monoxide poisoning.
In 2019, a deadly fire broke out in an escape room in Koszalin, Poland, causing carbon monoxide poisoning that killed five teenagers.
On January 4, 2019, a fire erupted inside a commercial escape room venue in Koszalin, Poland, producing toxic levels of carbon monoxide within the confined space. Five teenagers participating in the attraction succumbed to poisoning before emergency crews could rescue them. The tragedy sparked national outrage and led to immediate scrutiny of safety protocols in entertainment facilities across Poland. Investigators assessed the venue’s ventilation systems, fire detection alarms, and staff emergency training to determine the root causes. In response to the disaster, regulatory authorities imposed stricter oversight and mandatory safety drills for all escape room operators to prevent similar incidents in the future.
2019
fire in an escape room
Koszalin
carbon monoxide poisoning