1674day.year
An earthquake strikes the Indonesian island of Ambon. It triggers a 100 m (330 ft) megatsunami which drowns over 2,300 people.
In 1674, a massive earthquake struck Ambon Island in Indonesia, triggering a 100 m megatsunami that claimed over 2,300 lives.
On February 17, 1674, Ambon Island was rocked by a powerful undersea earthquake.
The tremor generated a colossal megatsunami, with waves reaching up to 100 meters high.
Entire coastal villages were swept away, and the disaster killed more than 2,300 inhabitants.
It remains one of the deadliest tsunamis in Indonesian history.
The event underscores the seismic hazard along the tectonic boundary in eastern Indonesia.
1674
earthquake strikes
Ambon
megatsunami
1676day.year
Sixteen men of Pascual de Iriate's expedition are lost at Evangelistas Islets at the western end of the Strait of Magellan.
In 1676, sixteen members of Pascual de Iriate's expedition perished after disappearing at the Evangelistas Islets near the Strait of Magellan.
Spanish navigator Pascual de Iriate set sail to map the western entrance of the Strait of Magellan.
After landing on the remote Evangelistas Islets on February 17, 1676, sixteen crewmen disappeared.
Harsh weather, treacherous currents, and isolation likely doomed the party.
No traces of the men were ever found, fueling legends of the haunted isles.
The incident exemplifies the dangers faced by early maritime explorers.
1676
Pascual de Iriate's expedition
Evangelistas Islets
Strait of Magellan
1959day.year
A Turkish Airlines Vickers Viscount crashes near Gatwick Airport, killing 14; Turkish prime minister Adnan Menderes survives the crash.
A Turkish Airlines Vickers Viscount crashed near Gatwick Airport on February 17, 1959, killing 14 passengers while Prime Minister Adnan Menderes survived.
On February 17, 1959, a Turkish Airlines Vickers Viscount commuter plane crashed shortly after departing Gatwick Airport.
The aircraft was en route to Ankara, carrying passengers including Prime Minister Adnan Menderes.
It failed to climb properly and collided with terrain, bursting into flames upon impact.
Fourteen people onboard lost their lives, while Menderes and several others escaped with injuries.
Investigators explored potential mechanical failures and pilot error as causes of the accident.
The tragedy prompted Turkish Airlines and British authorities to review safety procedures.
Menderes' survival amid the disaster became a notable moment in Turkish political history.
Turkish Airlines
Vickers Viscount
crashes
Gatwick Airport
Turkish prime minister
Adnan Menderes
1966day.year
Aeroflot Flight 065 crashes during take-off from Sheremetyevo International Airport, killing 21.
Aeroflot Flight 065 crashes on takeoff from Sheremetyevo Airport, resulting in the deaths of 21 people.
On February 17, 1966, Aeroflot Flight 065 took off from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft experienced mechanical issues and lost power. The plane descended abruptly and crashed near the runway perimeter, catching fire on impact. All 21 passengers and crew aboard were killed. The accident ranked among the worst aviation disasters in the Soviet Union at the time. A subsequent investigation pointed to technical failure in one of the engines, highlighting early jet transport safety challenges.
1966
Aeroflot Flight 065
Sheremetyevo International Airport
1969day.year
American aquanaut Berry L. Cannon dies of carbon dioxide poisoning while attempting to repair a leak in the SEALAB III underwater habitat. The SEALAB project was subsequently abandoned.
Aquanaut Berry L. Cannon dies inside the SEALAB III underwater habitat due to carbon dioxide poisoning, leading to the program's cancellation.
On February 17, 1969, American aquanaut Berry L. Cannon was working inside SEALAB III, an experimental underwater habitat off the coast of California. While repairing a leaking valve, Cannon's breathing system failed to remove rising carbon dioxide levels. He succumbed to carbon dioxide poisoning in the sealed chamber. The tragic incident prompted the U.S. Navy to suspend and eventually terminate the SEALAB program. SEALAB III had aimed to study human endurance in deep-sea environments and develop underwater research techniques. Cannon's death underscored the perils of pioneering life-support technology under extreme conditions. The loss remains a cautionary lesson in the risks of deep-ocean scientific exploration.
1969
Berry L. Cannon
SEALAB III
1991day.year
Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 crashes during takeoff from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, killing both pilots, the aircraft's only occupants.
Ryan International Flight 590 crashes on takeoff from Cleveland Hopkins, killing both pilots aboard.
On February 17, 1991, Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 departed Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with only the flight crew on board. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft encountered severe icing conditions that disrupted lift on the wings. The pilots lost control, and the airplane stalled before crashing back onto the runway. Both pilots were killed instantly in the impact and subsequent fire. The NTSB investigation cited inadequate deicing procedures and unforeseen weather hazards. The accident underscored the critical importance of rigorous deicing protocols in cold climates. In the wake of Flight 590, the airline industry reinforced training and equipment standards to prevent similar tragedies.
1991
Ryan International Airlines Flight 590
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
1996day.year
The 8.2 Mw Biak earthquake shakes the Papua province of eastern Indonesia with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). A large tsunami followed, leaving 166 people dead or missing and 423 injured.
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck Biak in Indonesia on February 17, 1996, triggering a tsunami and widespread devastation.
On February 17, 1996, a powerful 8.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the island of Biak in Papua province, Indonesia, registering an intensity of VIII on the Mercalli scale. The seismic event generated a large tsunami that inundated coastal villages, compounding the destruction and loss of life. Official reports counted 166 people dead or missing and 423 injured, with many homes and critical infrastructure reduced to rubble. Relief efforts faced challenges due to remote locations and damaged transport routes. The disaster highlighted the seismic risks of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and spurred improvements in regional earthquake and tsunami early warning systems.
Biak earthquake
Papua
Indonesia
Mercalli intensity
2006day.year
A massive mudslide occurs in Southern Leyte, Philippines; the official death toll is set at 1,126.
A massive mudslide in Southern Leyte, Philippines, on February 17, 2006, buried villages and left over 1,100 people dead.
After days of heavy monsoon rains on February 17, 2006, an enormous mudslide engulfed the village of Guinsaugon and surrounding communities in Southern Leyte, Philippines. The sudden flow of earth and debris buried hundreds of homes under meters of mud, causing widespread destruction. The government’s official death toll reached 1,126, with hundreds more reported missing. Search and rescue operations were hampered by unstable terrain and continuing rainfall, while survivors faced shortages of food, clean water, and medical care. The tragedy prompted calls for better land-use management and early warning systems in typhoon-prone regions.
2006
massive mudslide
Southern Leyte
2015day.year
Eighteen people are killed and 78 injured in a stampede at a Mardi Gras parade in Haiti.
A tragic stampede at a Haiti Mardi Gras parade on February 17, 2015, resulted in 18 deaths and 78 injuries.
During the carnival celebrations in Port-au-Prince on February 17, 2015, a sudden surge of the crowd triggered a stampede through narrow streets lined with spectators. Panic spread as people rushed toward perceived exits, causing many to fall and be trampled. Emergency services struggled to reach the scene amidst the chaos, and hospitals reported treating dozens of serious injuries. Officials attributed the disaster to overcrowding and inadequate crowd control measures. The tragedy prompted calls for improved safety protocols during large public events and for accountability in urban planning.
2015
stampede
Mardi Gras
Haiti