1962day.year
The Great Sheffield Gale impacts the United Kingdom, killing nine people; the city of Sheffield is devastated, with 150,000 homes damaged.
The Great Sheffield Gale of February 1962 unleashed hurricane-force winds over Sheffield, England, causing widespread damage and fatalities.
On February 16, 1962, gale-force winds sweeping across northern England battered Sheffield, with gusts exceeding 80 mph in some areas.
The storm uprooted trees, damaged buildings, and wrecked approximately 150,000 homes, leaving many residents homeless.
Torrential rains and fallen debris led to nine confirmed deaths and numerous injuries throughout the city.
Emergency services and local communities rallied to clear roads and provide shelter, highlighting resilience in the face of natural disaster.
The Great Sheffield Gale remains one of the most severe windstorms in the region's recorded history.
1962
Great Sheffield Gale
United Kingdom
Sheffield
1962day.year
Flooding in the coastal areas of West Germany kills 315 and destroys the homes of about 60,000 people.
Severe flooding hit coastal West Germany in February 1962, killing over 300 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Beginning on February 15 and peaking on the 16th, 1962, coastal regions of West Germany faced catastrophic flooding due to North Sea storm surges.
Levees were breached across Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, inundating towns and farmlands with several feet of water.
The disaster resulted in the deaths of 315 people and displaced approximately 60,000 residents from their homes.
Rescue operations involved military, civil defense, and volunteer teams working around the clock to evacuate survivors.
The floods prompted significant investment in flood defenses and emergency preparedness in the subsequent years.
Flooding
1968day.year
Civil Air Transport Flight 010 crashes near Shongshan Airport in Taiwan, killing 21 of the 63 people on board and one more on the ground.
Civil Air Transport Flight 010 crashes near Taipei’s Shongshan Airport, killing 21 passengers and one person on the ground.
On February 16, 1968, Civil Air Transport Flight 010 encountered severe weather and crashed on approach to Shongshan Airport in Taiwan.
Of the 63 people on board, 21 lost their lives, and a passerby on the ground was also killed by falling debris.
The accident prompted renewed emphasis on pilot training and safety protocols in challenging weather conditions.
A subsequent investigation led to improvements in aircraft navigation aids and crew communication procedures.
The tragedy remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Taiwan’s history.
Civil Air Transport Flight 010
Shongshan Airport
1983day.year
The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia kill 75.
Ash Wednesday bushfires devastate parts of Victoria and South Australia, claiming 75 lives.
On February 16, 1983, extreme heat and strong winds fueled the Ash Wednesday bushfires across southeastern Australia.
The fires devastated communities in Victoria and South Australia, destroying over 2,000 homes and leaving 75 people dead.
Volunteer firefighters and locals battled the blazes, but many towns were overwhelmed by the speed and intensity of the firestorms.
In response, Australian authorities overhauled bushfire management strategies, including improved warning systems and community education.
Ash Wednesday remains one of the country’s worst natural disasters and shaped modern fire prevention practices.
1983
Ash Wednesday bushfires
Victoria
South Australia
1986day.year
The Soviet liner MS Mikhail Lermontov runs aground in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand.
The Soviet cruise liner MS Mikhail Lermontov runs aground in New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds.
On February 16, 1986, the Soviet passenger liner MS Mikhail Lermontov struck a reef while navigating New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds.
Carrying over 500 passengers and crew, the vessel began taking on water as hull plates were breached.
Local rescue teams evacuated everyone safely, and salvage operations later refloated the ship.
The incident sparked debates about the environmental impact of large vessels in sensitive marine areas.
MS Mikhail Lermontov was ultimately scuttled as a dive wreck, becoming a popular attraction for underwater tourism.
1986
Soviet
MS Mikhail Lermontov
Marlborough Sounds
1986day.year
China Airlines Flight 2265 crashes into the Pacific Ocean near Penghu Airport in Taiwan, killing all 13 aboard.
China Airlines Flight 2265 crashes into the Pacific Ocean near Penghu Airport, killing all 13 on board.
On February 16, 1986, Flight 2265, a Boeing 737 operated by China Airlines, crashed during approach to Penghu Airport in Taiwan.
All 13 crew members and passengers on board lost their lives as the aircraft plunged into the ocean.
Investigators cited navigational errors in poor visibility conditions as contributing factors.
The tragedy led China Airlines to revise its approach procedures and invest in advanced avionics.
Flight 2265 remains one of the deadliest accidents in the airline’s history.
China Airlines Flight 2265
Penghu Airport
Taiwan
1996day.year
A Chicago-bound Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, collides with a MARC commuter train bound for Washington, D.C., killing 11 people.
Amtrak’s Capitol Limited collides with a MARC commuter train near Washington, D.C., killing 11 people.
On February 16, 1996, the Capitol Limited, an Amtrak passenger train bound for Chicago, collided with a MARC commuter train near Silver Spring, Maryland.
The crash occurred when a misaligned switch sent the MARC train onto the same track as the oncoming Capitol Limited.
Rescue crews worked through the night to free passengers from mangled carriages and transport the injured to local hospitals.
Investigators cited signal failure and human error as primary causes of the accident.
The disaster prompted significant safety upgrades on the region’s rail network, including improved switch monitoring and crew training.
1996
Amtrak
Capitol Limited
collides
MARC
1998day.year
China Airlines Flight 676 crashes into a road and residential area near Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taiwan, killing all 196 aboard and six more on the ground.
On February 16, 1998, China Airlines Flight 676 crashed near Taipei, resulting in the deaths of all 196 passengers and crew as well as six people on the ground.
China Airlines Flight 676, a Boeing 737 operating from Bangkok to Taipei, encountered heavy rain and wind as it approached Chiang Kai-shek International Airport on the evening of February 16, 1998. The aircraft descended below the glide path, struck a rain-soaked roadway, and plowed into a residential neighborhood. All 196 people on board and six residents on the ground were killed instantly. Rescue teams faced flooded streets and debris-strewn roads during recovery efforts. Taiwan’s Aviation Safety Council investigation cited pilot error and adverse weather as primary factors. Following the crash, China Airlines implemented stricter approach protocols and enhanced pilot training on wind shear recognition. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Taiwanese history.
1998
China Airlines Flight 676
Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
Taiwan
2000day.year
Emery Worldwide Airlines Flight 17 crashes near Sacramento Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova, California, killing all three aboard.
On February 16, 2000, Emery Worldwide Airlines Flight 17 crashed on approach to Sacramento Mather Airport, killing all three crew members.
Emery Worldwide Airlines Flight 17, a Douglas DC-8 cargo jet, was on a scheduled run to Sacramento Mather Airport when it encountered navigation difficulties on the evening of February 16, 2000. The aircraft descended prematurely in poor visibility and struck trees in a wooded area just short of the runway. All three crew members aboard were killed upon impact. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation highlighted pilot error and spatial disorientation as key factors. Following the accident, Emery Worldwide revised its approach procedures and strengthened training on instrument flying. The crash prompted broader industry discussions on cockpit resource management and approach safety at smaller airports.
2000
Emery Worldwide Airlines Flight 17
Sacramento Mather Airport
Rancho Cordova, California
2013day.year
A bomb blast at a market in Hazara Town, Quetta, Pakistan kills more than 80 people and injures 190 others.
On February 16, 2013, a bomb detonated at a crowded market in Hazara Town, Quetta, killing over 80 people and wounding nearly 190.
The suicide bombing struck a busy outdoor market in the Hazara Town neighborhood of Quetta, targeting Pakistan’s ethnic Hazara Shia community. Occurring during the evening rush hour, the blast ripped through stalls and crowded lanes, causing widespread carnage. Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, where medical staff faced overwhelming numbers of casualties. Authorities blamed sectarian militant groups for orchestrating the attack. The bombing deepened fears among minority communities in Balochistan province and sparked protests demanding government protection. International organizations condemned the violence and urged Pakistani authorities to enhance security measures. The tragedy highlighted the persistent sectarian tensions and challenges in safeguarding vulnerable populations.
2013
bomb blast
Hazara Town
Quetta, Pakistan