1898day.year
The battleship USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing about 274 of the ship's roughly 354 crew. The disaster pushes the United States to declare war on Spain.
The U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, killing nearly its entire crew and triggering U.S. entry into the Spanish–American War.
On the evening of February 15, 1898, the USS Maine, anchored in Havana Harbor, suffered a catastrophic explosion that sank the vessel within minutes. Approximately 274 of the 354 officers and enlisted men aboard were killed. Although the cause of the blast was never definitively determined, American newspapers blamed Spanish sabotage, fueling public outrage. The rallying cry "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" galvanized American support for intervention in Cuba. Just two months later, the United States declared war on Spain, marking the beginning of the Spanish–American War. This conflict would result in significant territorial acquisitions for the U.S. and a shift in the nation's global role.
1898
USS Maine
Havana
Cuba
United States
declare war
Spain
1909day.year
The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico kills 250.
A devastating fire at the Flores Theater in Acapulco, Mexico, claimed around 250 lives in one of the deadliest theater fires of the early 20th century.
On February 15, 1909, the Flores Theater in Acapulco was filled with spectators attending a popular musical performance when a blaze broke out backstage. The theater's wooden construction and lack of adequate emergency exits contributed to rapid spread of the fire and a tragic stampede. Local emergency services were overwhelmed, and many victims suffered fatal burns or were trampled in the rush to escape. In total, approximately 250 people lost their lives, making it one of the most lethal theater disasters of that era. The catastrophe prompted calls for stricter fire safety regulations in Mexican public venues. It also led to improvements in building materials, exit signage, and crowd management practices.
1909
Acapulco
1961day.year
Sabena Flight 548 crashes in Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team along with several of their coaches and family members.
Sabena Flight 548 crashed near Brussels in 1961, killing all 73 on board, including the entire U.S. figure skating team.
On February 15, 1961, Sabena Flight 548, en route from New York to Brussels, crashed near the Belgian village of Berg-Kampenhout. The tragedy claimed the lives of all 73 passengers and crew, including every member of the United States figure skating team along with coaches and family members. The loss devastated the American figure skating community, halting preparations for the upcoming World Championships. Investigations examined a combination of pilot error and mechanical issues, but no definitive single cause was established. The disaster led to improved aviation safety protocols and ushered in new procedures for athlete travel support. To this day, Flight 548 remains one of the most tragic accidents involving a sports team.
1961
Sabena Flight 548
figure skating
1970day.year
A Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashes into the Caribbean Sea after takeoff from Las Américas International Airport, killing 102, including members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team and lightweight boxer Carlos Cruz.
A Dominicana de Aviación DC-9 crashed into the Caribbean Sea after takeoff from Santo Domingo in 1970, killing all 102 on board, including Puerto Rican volleyball players and boxer Carlos Cruz.
On February 15, 1970, a Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9 plunged into the Caribbean Sea moments after departing Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo. The accident claimed the lives of all 102 passengers and crew on board. Among the victims were members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team traveling to a regional tournament, as well as lightweight boxing champion Carlos Cruz. Witnesses reported that the aircraft encountered severe weather and lost altitude before crashing into the sea. Although investigations pointed to potential mechanical failure and pilot challenges in stormy conditions, no definitive cause was publicly confirmed. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Caribbean history and led to enhanced safety standards for regional carriers.
1970
Dominicana de Aviación
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
crashes
Caribbean Sea
Las Américas International Airport
Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team
Carlos Cruz
1982day.year
The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 workers.
During a severe storm on February 15, 1982, the offshore drilling rig Ocean Ranger sank off Newfoundland, resulting in the loss of all 84 crew members.
On February 15, 1982, the semi-submersible drilling rig Ocean Ranger capsized and sank in the North Atlantic during a violent storm east of Newfoundland. At the time, it was one of the largest offshore drilling platforms in the world, conducting oil exploration in harsh Arctic-like conditions. All 84 workers on board tragically perished, making it Canada's deadliest offshore disaster. Rescue and recovery efforts were hampered by frigid temperatures, high seas, and gale-force winds. Subsequent investigations revealed design flaws, inadequate emergency procedures, and poor weather forecasting as contributing factors. The disaster led to major safety reforms in offshore drilling operations globally, emphasizing rigorous vessel design, crew training, and emergency preparedness.
1982
drilling rig
Ocean Ranger
Newfoundland
1992day.year
Air Transport International Flight 805 crashes in Swanton, Ohio, near Toledo Express Airport, killing all four people on board.
Air Transport International Flight 805 crashed near Toledo Express Airport in Ohio, killing all four people on board.
On February 15, 1992, Air Transport International Flight 805 encountered a fatal crash near Swanton, Ohio, shortly before reaching Toledo Express Airport. The aircraft went down in a rural area, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a thorough inquiry into the circumstances of the accident. While the exact cause was not publicly determined, the tragedy highlighted the risks faced by air cargo operations. The incident prompted discussions on enhancing safety measures in regional aviation.
Air Transport International Flight 805
Swanton, Ohio
Toledo Express Airport
1996day.year
At the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Long March 3B rocket, carrying an Intelsat 708, veers off course and crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing somewhere between six and 100 people.
A Chinese Long March 3B rocket veers off course and crashes into a village after liftoff, causing multiple fatalities.
On February 15, 1996, a Long March 3B rocket carrying the Intelsat 708 communications satellite failed shortly after launch at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The vehicle veered off its flight path and plunged into a nearby rural village, destroying homes and causing widespread devastation. Official reports cited six confirmed deaths, but some estimates suggest the toll may have reached 100 victims. The accident became one of the deadliest in the history of space launch operations. It raised international concerns about the safety protocols of China’s burgeoning space program and the risks faced by local communities.
1996
Xichang Satellite Launch Center
Long March 3B
Intelsat 708
2010day.year
Two trains collide in the Halle train collision in Halle, Belgium, killing 19 and injuring 171 people.
Two trains collide near Halle, Belgium, resulting in 19 deaths and 171 injuries in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents.
On February 15, 2010, two passenger trains collided head-on near the Halle train station in Belgium’s Flemish region. The high-speed collision killed 19 people and injured 171 others, leaving many survivors with life-altering injuries. Rescue teams from across the region responded swiftly to extract passengers from the wreckage and tend to the injured. Preliminary investigations focused on potential signaling errors and human factors as possible causes of the crash. In the aftermath, Belgian railway authorities launched a comprehensive safety review to prevent similar disasters.
2010
Halle train collision
Halle, Belgium
2012day.year
Three hundred and sixty people die in a fire at a Honduran prison in the city of Comayagua.
A deadly fire breaks out at Comayagua prison in Honduras, killing 360 inmates and highlighting dire prison conditions.
On February 15, 2012, a devastating blaze engulfed the overcrowded Comayagua prison in central Honduras, trapping inmates behind locked barred cells. Official counts reported 360 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest prison fires in history. Survivors described a desperate scramble as flames spread rapidly through wooden structures and flammable bedding. Investigations revealed severe overcrowding, inadequate fire safety measures, and a lack of emergency exits. The tragedy drew international condemnation and intensified calls for comprehensive reforms of prison infrastructure and inmate welfare in Honduras and beyond.
2012
fire
Honduran prison
Comayagua
2021day.year
Sixty people drown and hundreds are missing after a boat sinks on the Congo River near the village of Longola Ekoti, Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
An overloaded boat sinks on the Congo River near Longola Ekoti, leaving at least 60 dead and hundreds missing.
On February 15, 2021, a passenger boat carrying dozens of people capsized and sank on the Congo River near the village of Longola Ekoti in Mai-Ndombe Province. Challenged by strong currents and overloading, the vessel went down, resulting in at least 60 confirmed fatalities and many more reported missing. Rescue operations by local communities and authorities faced difficulties due to limited resources and the river’s treacherous conditions. Survivors recounted a chaotic scramble as the boat’s wooden hull split and water rushed in. The disaster highlighted the urgent need for stricter safety regulations and better infrastructure for inland water transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2021
Congo River
Mai-Ndombe Province