1169day.year
A strong earthquake strikes the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania.
A powerful earthquake devastates the Ionian coast of Sicily, particularly impacting Catania and resulting in massive casualties.
On February 4, 1169, a severe earthquake struck the eastern coast of Sicily, with Catania bearing the brunt of the disaster.
Eyewitness accounts describe buildings collapsing, streets cracking open, and widespread fires breaking out in the chaos.
Historical estimates suggest tens of thousands of people were injured or killed during the shaking and its aftermath.
The catastrophe caused long-term disruption to local trade and agriculture, as ports and farmland were heavily damaged.
Reconstruction efforts took years, and the event was remembered in chronicles as one of medieval Sicily’s most deadly natural disasters.
The earthquake's impact influenced later building practices aimed at improving structural resilience in seismic regions.
1169
strong earthquake
Catania
1797day.year
The Riobamba earthquake strikes Ecuador, causing up to 40,000 casualties.
A catastrophic earthquake devastates the region around Riobamba in Ecuador, killing tens of thousands.
On February 4, 1797, a massive earthquake shook the Andean foothills near Riobamba, Ecuador.
Contemporary reports estimate that up to 40,000 people perished as villages and missions were flattened.
The quake triggered landslides that buried entire communities and disrupted communication routes.
Survivors faced harsh mountain winters without shelter or supplies, compounding the human toll.
Spanish colonial authorities struggled to coordinate relief across rugged terrain, slowing recovery efforts.
The disaster remains one of the deadliest in South American history and spurred early seismic studies in the region.
1797
Riobamba earthquake
Ecuador
1966day.year
All Nippon Airways Flight 60 plunges into Tokyo Bay, killing 133.
All Nippon Airways Flight 60 crashes into Tokyo Bay after takeoff, killing all 133 aboard.
On February 4, 1966, All Nippon Airways Flight 60 disappeared from radar moments after takeoff from Haneda Airport bound for Sapporo. The Boeing 727 went down in Tokyo Bay, and rescue divers recovered debris and bodies from the murky waters. All 133 passengers and crew members perished, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Japanese history at the time. Investigators never conclusively determined the cause, as the flight data recorder was too damaged to yield clear information. The disaster prompted improvements in cockpit procedures, search and rescue operations, and flight recorder standards. It also led to greater public awareness of aviation safety issues in postwar Japan.
1966
All Nippon Airways Flight 60
Tokyo Bay
1975day.year
Haicheng earthquake (magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale) occurs in Haicheng, Liaoning, China.
On February 4, 1975, a powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes Haicheng in Liaoning province, China, causing widespread damage.
On February 4, 1975, Haicheng in Liaoning province, China, was jolted by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake.
It remains one of the few seismic events where authorities issued successful evacuation warnings after intense foreshock activity.
Despite the quake’s intensity, early alerts helped reduce the death toll compared to similar tremors.
The ground rumbled violently, causing widespread damage to residential buildings and infrastructure.
Cracks split the earth’s surface, and aftershocks continued for days.
Chinese seismologists studied the event to refine earthquake prediction methods.
Rescue teams and local communities worked together to rebuild in the quake’s aftermath.
1975
Haicheng earthquake
Richter scale
Haicheng, Liaoning
1976day.year
In Guatemala and Honduras an earthquake kills more than 22,000.
A powerful earthquake on February 4, 1976, strikes Guatemala and Honduras, claiming over 22,000 lives.
On February 4, 1976, a powerful earthquake rocked the border region between Guatemala and Honduras.
The tremor triggered massive destruction of homes, roads, and public buildings across rural and urban areas.
More than 22,000 people lost their lives, and tens of thousands were injured or left homeless.
Aftershocks complicated rescue efforts as survivors searched for loved ones amid the rubble.
Landslides and damaged infrastructure hampered aid delivery to remote communities.
International relief agencies mobilized to provide emergency medical care and supplies.
The disaster prompted a reexamination of building codes and disaster preparedness in the region.
1976
Guatemala
Honduras
earthquake
1977day.year
A Chicago Transit Authority elevated train rear-ends another and derails, killing 11 and injuring 180, the worst accident in the agency's history.
In 1977, two Chicago Transit Authority elevated trains collided and derailed, resulting in 11 deaths and 180 injuries.
On February 4, 1977, a Chicago Transit Authority elevated train rear-ended another on the city's north side.
The collision caused both trains to derail, marking the deadliest accident in CTA history.
Eleven passengers lost their lives and 180 were injured in the crash.
Emergency responders raced to the scene amid debris and twisted metal.
Investigations focused on signaling errors and brake failures as potential causes.
Following the disaster, the CTA implemented new safety protocols and equipment upgrades.
The incident underscored the importance of rigorous maintenance and operational checks in urban transit systems.
1977
Chicago Transit Authority
elevated train
rear-ends another and derails
1997day.year
En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel, killing 73.
In 1997, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 helicopters collided mid-air over northern Galilee, killing 73 soldiers.
On February 4, 1997, two Israeli CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters collided while flying toward a mission in Lebanon.
The mid-air collision over northern Galilee resulted in the loss of all 73 soldiers aboard both aircraft.
Flames and debris rained down over a forested area, shocking the nation and military community.
Rescue and recovery operations were hampered by rugged terrain and harsh winter conditions.
An official investigation examined factors such as flight formation protocols and communication breakdowns.
The tragedy prompted the Israeli Air Force to revise safety procedures and flight training programs.
1997
Lebanon
Sikorsky CH-53
collide in mid-air
1997day.year
The Bojnurd earthquake measuring Mw 6.5 strikes Iran. With a Mercalli intensity of VIII, it kills at least 88 and damages 173 villages.
The 1997 Bojnurd earthquake in Iran, measuring Mw 6.5, kills at least 88 and devastates 173 villages.
On February 4, 1997, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near Bojnurd in northeastern Iran.
The quake registered a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII, indicating severe shaking.
At least 88 people were killed, and 173 rural villages suffered extensive damage or destruction.
Homes built from traditional materials collapsed, leaving many homeless in freezing winter conditions.
Local authorities and volunteers mobilized to provide shelter, food, and medical aid.
The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of remote communities to seismic hazards.
Reconstruction efforts focused on improving building standards and emergency response capabilities.
Bojnurd earthquake
1998day.year
The 5.9 Mw Afghanistan earthquake shakes the Takhar Province with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). With 2,323 killed, and 818 injured, damage is considered extreme.
In 1998, a 5.9 Mw earthquake hits Afghanistan's Takhar Province, killing 2,323 people and injuring 818.
On February 4, 1998, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Takhar Province in northeastern Afghanistan.
The tremor produced a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII, signifying very strong shaking.
More than 2,300 lives were lost, and over 800 people were injured in the disaster.
Remote villages bore the brunt of the impact, with many homes collapsing in the quake.
Rescue efforts faced challenges due to rugged terrain and limited infrastructure.
International aid agencies coordinated with local officials to deliver critical supplies.
The event underscored the need for earthquake-resistant construction in vulnerable regions.
1998
Afghanistan earthquake
Takhar Province
Mercalli intensity
2015day.year
TransAsia Airways Flight 235, with 58 people on board, en route from the Taiwanese capital Taipei to Kinmen, crashes into the Keelung River just after takeoff, killing 43 people.
TransAsia Airways Flight 235 crashes into the Keelung River just after takeoff, resulting in 43 fatalities.
On February 4, 2015, TransAsia Airways Flight 235 departed Taipei's Songshan Airport en route to Kinmen with 58 people aboard. Seconds after takeoff, one of its engines failed, causing the pilot to lose control and clip the runway. The aircraft then careened into the Keelung River near the airport. Rescue boats and emergency responders arrived quickly, but 43 people lost their lives. Several passengers and crew were trapped inside the sinking plane and drowned before reaching safety. An investigation later pointed to pilot error and insufficient training as contributing factors. The crash prompted airlines worldwide to review their safety protocols for engine-out procedures.
2015
TransAsia Airways Flight 235
Taipei
Kinmen
Keelung River