1038day.year
An earthquake in Dingxiang, China kills an estimated 32,300.
A devastating earthquake struck Dingxiang in 1038, claiming over 32,000 lives.
In 1038, a violent earthquake shook the region around Dingxiang in what is now northern China.
Historical records estimate the death toll at over 32,000, marking one of the deadliest quakes of the era.
The tremor caused widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure in the imperial frontier.
Survivors faced harsh winter conditions and shortages of food and shelter.
Contemporary annals chronicle the disaster's impact on local governance and relief efforts.
The event remains a significant marker in the seismic history of China.
1038
earthquake
Dingxiang
1693day.year
Sicily earthquake: The first of two earthquakes destroys parts of Sicily and Malta. After the second quake on 11 January, the death toll is estimated at between 60,000 and 100,000 people.
The first of two powerful earthquakes struck Sicily on January 9, 1693, devastating parts of Sicily and Malta.
At dawn on January 9, 1693, a major earthquake rocked southeastern Sicily, destroying towns and villages.
The tremor and ensuing aftershocks leveled buildings across the Val di Noto and affected neighboring Malta.
Contemporary accounts describe a thunderous roar and the ground opening in fissures.
When the second quake struck on January 11, the combined death toll soared between 60,000 and 100,000.
The disaster prompted extensive rebuilding in the Baroque style, giving rise to the Val di Noto UNESCO World Heritage sites.
1693
Sicily earthquake
Sicily
Malta
1857day.year
The 7.9 Mw Fort Tejon earthquake shakes Central and Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).
The 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake struck central and southern California with a violent intensity, reshaping the region's geology.
On January 9, 1857, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake, known as the Fort Tejon earthquake, ruptured the San Andreas Fault in California. The tremor produced a surface rupture that extended over 200 miles, altering landscapes from San Bernardino to Monterey. Reports described violent shaking and widespread ground fissures, though few structures existed in the sparsely populated region. The event provided early scientific insights into fault mechanics and seismic risk. Today, the Fort Tejon earthquake is studied as a classic example of a major strike-slip fault event in the American West.
1857
Fort Tejon earthquake
Central
Southern California
Mercalli intensity
1927day.year
A fire at the Laurier Palace movie theatre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, kills 78 children.
A devastating fire broke out at Montreal's Laurier Palace cinema in 1927, tragically claiming the lives of 78 children.
On the evening of 9 January 1927, a fire erupted in the Laurier Palace movie theatre while a children's film was showing.
Flames quickly spread through the wooden auditorium, and most exits were found locked or overcrowded.
Panic ensued as young moviegoers struggled to find escape routes.
Firefighters arrived rapidly but were unable to reach many trapped children.
In the aftermath, 78 children perished, making it one of Canada's deadliest cinema disasters.
Public outrage led to stricter fire codes and regulations for entertainment venues across the country.
1927
Laurier Palace movie theatre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1959day.year
The Vega de Tera dam fails, triggering a disastrous flood that nearly destroys the town of Ribadelago and kills 144 residents.
A catastrophic dam failure on the Vega de Tera reservoir unleashed a flood that devastated Ribadelago, Spain, and claimed 144 lives.
In the early hours of 9 January 1959, structural weaknesses led the Vega de Tera dam to collapse unexpectedly.
A massive wall of water surged downstream toward the village of Ribadelago.
Residents had little warning as the flood engulfed homes, sweeping people and livestock away.
Emergency services arrived quickly but could not prevent the high death toll.
Villagers launched rescue efforts among the debris in the freezing cold.
The tragedy sparked a nationwide review of dam safety standards and led to stricter engineering protocols.
1959
Vega de Tera dam fails
Ribadelago
1997day.year
Comair Flight 3272 crashes in Raisinville Township in Monroe County, Michigan, killing 29 people.
Comair Flight 3272 crashed in Raisinville Township, Michigan, on January 9, 1997, resulting in 29 fatalities.
On January 9, 1997, Comair Flight 3272, a regional turboprop service from Cincinnati to Detroit, encountered severe icing conditions. While preparing to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the aircraft abruptly lost altitude and control, plummeting into a rural area of Raisinville Township in Monroe County, Michigan. All 29 passengers and crew aboard tragically perished in the crash. Investigators determined that inadequate deicing procedures and weather-related factors contributed to the loss of control. The accident prompted reforms in icing certification standards and pilot training for regional carriers. Comair Flight 3272 remains a somber reminder of the dangers posed by in-flight icing and the importance of rigorous safety protocols.
1997
Comair Flight 3272
Raisinville Township
Monroe County, Michigan
2003day.year
TANS Perú Flight 222 crashes on approach to Chachapoyas Airport in Chachapoyas, Peru, killing 46 people.
TANS Perú Flight 222 crashed near Chachapoyas Airport in Peru on January 9, 2003, killing 46 people.
On January 9, 2003, TANS Perú Flight 222, a domestic passenger flight from Lima to Chachapoyas, approached its destination airport under challenging weather. The aircraft descended below the minimum safe altitude during its final approach and collided with mountainous terrain near Chachapoyas Airport. All 46 passengers and crew aboard perished in the impact. The Peruvian aviation authorities attributed the accident to pilot error and inadequate navigational aids in the region. The tragedy spurred efforts to modernize air traffic control systems and improve instrument approach procedures at remote airports. Flight 222 stands as one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Peru’s recent history.
2003
TANS Perú Flight 222
Chachapoyas Airport
Chachapoyas, Peru
2004day.year
An inflatable boat carrying illegal Albanian emigrants stalls near the Karaburun Peninsula en route to Brindisi, Italy; exposure to the elements kills 28. This is the second deadliest marine disaster in Albanian history.
An inflatable boat carrying Albanian migrants capsized near the Karaburun Peninsula on January 9, 2004, leading to 28 deaths from exposure.
In the early hours of January 9, 2004, an overcrowded inflatable craft carrying illegal Albanian emigrants stalled off the Karaburun Peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The vessel was en route to Brindisi, Italy, when engine failure left passengers adrift in cold winter waters. Efforts to reach safety were hampered by rough seas and a lack of immediate rescue resources. Over the following hours, 28 migrants succumbed to hypothermia and exposure. The incident became the second deadliest maritime disaster in Albanian history. It drew international attention to the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants and pressured authorities to enhance search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
2004
inflatable boat
Albanian
stalls
Karaburun Peninsula
Brindisi
2011day.year
Iran Air Flight 277 crashes near Urmia in the northwest of the country, in icy conditions, killing 78 people.
Iran Air Flight 277 crashed near Urmia, Iran, in icy conditions on January 9, 2011, killing 78 people.
On January 9, 2011, Iran Air Flight 277 departed from Tehran for Urmia in northwest Iran.
As the Boeing MD-88 approached Urmia Airport, severe icing caused the crew to lose control of the aircraft.
The plane impacted hilly terrain and burst into flames, claiming the lives of 78 passengers and crew.
Rescue teams faced freezing temperatures and poor visibility while searching for survivors.
The crash prompted Iranian authorities to investigate aircraft de-icing procedures and crew training.
The accident remains one of the deadliest in Iran's recent aviation history.
2011
Iran Air Flight 277
Urmia
2014day.year
An explosion at a Mitsubishi Materials chemical plant in Yokkaichi, Japan, kills at least five people and injures 17 others.
An explosion at a Mitsubishi Materials chemical plant in Yokkaichi, Japan, on January 9, 2014, killed at least five people and injured 17 others.
On January 9, 2014, a massive explosion rocked the Mitsubishi Materials chemical plant in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
The blast occurred in a sulfuric acid processing unit, sending debris flying across the facility.
Emergency crews evacuated nearby workers and treated at least 17 individuals for burns and smoke inhalation.
Investigators examined maintenance records and safety protocols for potential lapses in procedures.
The incident sparked discussions on industrial safety standards across Japan’s chemical manufacturing sector.
Mitsubishi Materials implemented new inspection routines in the blast’s aftermath to prevent future accidents.
2014
explosion
Mitsubishi Materials
Yokkaichi
2015day.year
A mass poisoning at a funeral in Mozambique involving beer that was contaminated with Burkholderia gladioli leaves 75 dead and over 230 people ill.
A funeral in Mozambique on January 9, 2015, ended in tragedy when contaminated beer caused mass poisoning, killing 75 people and sickening over 230.
During a traditional funeral gathering in Mozambique’s Chitima village, mourners consumed home-brewed beer tainted with the bacteria Burkholderia gladioli.
Symptoms of severe vomiting and diarrhea emerged within hours, overwhelming local health facilities unprepared for the outbreak.
Over 230 individuals fell ill, and medical teams struggled to source critical rehydration supplies in the remote region.
Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the soil-borne bacterium, prompting public health warnings against unregulated brewing practices.
The tragedy underscored the need for improved sanitation and oversight in homemade beverage production across rural communities.
International aid organizations later assisted in establishing safer brewing guidelines for traditional ceremonies.
mass poisoning
Mozambique
Burkholderia gladioli
2021day.year
Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 crashes north of Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 62 people on board.
On January 9, 2021, Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 plunged into waters near Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 62 people on board.
Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 departed from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport en route to Pontianak.
Minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 737-500 lost altitude and disappeared from radar over the Java Sea.
Search and rescue teams recovered debris and victims from the shallow seabed in murky, choppy waters.
Investigators examined flight data recorders to determine whether faulty autopilot settings contributed to the abrupt descent.
The crash reignited scrutiny of Indonesia’s aviation safety record and spurred reforms in airline maintenance protocols.
Families of the victims received support from government and airline programs focused on accident compensation and aviation training improvements.
2021
Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 crashes
Jakarta