1695day.year
The 1695 Linfen earthquake in Shannxi, Qing dynasty causes extreme damage and kills at least 52,000 people.
A massive earthquake struck Linfen in Shaanxi Province in 1695, causing widespread destruction and killing over 52,000 people.
On May 18, 1695, a powerful earthquake rocked the region around Linfen in China’s Shaanxi Province during the Qing dynasty.
The tremor demolished cities and villages, bringing down walls, temples, and homes throughout the valley.
Estimates place the death toll at a staggering 52,000 or more, making it one of the deadliest seismic events of the era.
The disaster disrupted agriculture and local trade, leading to famine and social unrest.
Imperial relief efforts struggled to reach remote communities, highlighting the challenges of disaster response in the 17th century.
1695
1695 Linfen earthquake
1896day.year
Khodynka Tragedy: A mass panic on Khodynka Field in Moscow during the festivities of the coronation of Russian Tsar Nicholas II results in the deaths of 1,389 people.
A mass panic at Khodynka Field in Moscow on May 18, 1896, during Tsar Nicholas II's coronation killed at least 1,389 people.
Coronation festivities drew vast crowds to Khodynka Field, where gifts and refreshments were to be distributed.\nRumors of limited provisions sparked chaos and a rush toward the distribution points.\nOvercrowding at narrow exits led to people being trampled and crushed.\nAt least 1,389 men, women, and children lost their lives in the tragedy.\nDespite the disaster, Tsar Nicholas II controversially attended a celebratory ball the same evening.\nPublic outrage grew over perceived indifference by the imperial court.\nThe Khodynka Tragedy remains a stark reminder of the importance of crowd management and safety measures.
Khodynka Tragedy
mass panic
Khodynka Field
coronation
Russian Tsar Nicholas II
1927day.year
The Bath School disaster: Forty-five people, including many children, are killed by bombs planted by a disgruntled school-board member in Bath Township, Michigan.
The Bath School disaster occurred on May 18, 1927, when bombs exploded at a Michigan school, killing 45 people, many of them children.
On this day in 1927, Andrew Kehoe, a school-board member in Bath Township, Michigan, detonated explosives at the local schoolhouse. The coordinated bombings at Bath Consolidated School and Kehoe’s own farm resulted in the deaths of 38 schoolchildren and seven adults. The motive was rooted in Kehoe’s dispute over taxes and school funding. It remains the deadliest act of school violence in U.S. history. The community was stunned by the scale of the tragedy and the premeditated nature of the attack. In its aftermath, national attention focused on mental health, security, and the challenges of rural education in the early 20th century.
1927
Bath School disaster
Bath Township
Michigan
1972day.year
During approach to Kharkiv International Airport, Aeroflot Flight 1491 crashes near Ruska Lozova, killing all 112 aboard.
Aeroflot Flight 1491 crashed on approach to Kharkiv International Airport near Ruska Lozova, Ukraine, killing all 112 passengers and crew.
On May 18, 1972, Aeroflot Flight 1491 was on approach to Kharkiv International Airport when it encountered difficulties.
The aircraft descended too rapidly and crashed into a field near the village of Ruska Lozova.
All 112 people aboard, including passengers and crew, perished in the impact.
Investigations pointed to controlled flight into terrain under poor visibility conditions.
The disaster remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Soviet-era Ukraine.
It led to renewed emphasis on approach procedures and pilot training in adverse weather.
1972
Kharkiv International Airport
Aeroflot Flight 1491
Ruska Lozova
1973day.year
Aeroflot Flight 109 is hijacked mid-flight and the aircraft is subsequently destroyed when the hijacker's bomb explodes, killing all 82 people on board.
Aeroflot Flight 109 was hijacked and destroyed by a bomb detonated mid-flight, resulting in the deaths of all 82 people on board.
On May 18, 1973, Aeroflot Flight 109 was hijacked shortly after takeoff.
The hijacker carried an explosive device and issued unspecified demands.
Mid-flight, the bomb detonated, breaching the fuselage and causing a catastrophic in-flight breakup.
All 82 passengers and crew lost their lives in the explosion.
The incident underscored vulnerabilities in aviation security and prompted stricter screening measures.
It remains a grim reminder of the threat of airborne terrorism.
1973
Aeroflot Flight 109
1980day.year
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.
Mount St. Helens erupted catastrophically in Washington State, killing 57 people and causing around $3 billion in damage.
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens unleashed a massive eruption, producing a lateral blast and pyroclastic flows.
The eruption reduced the volcano's summit from over 2,950 meters to about 2,550 meters.
Ash columns rose more than 24 kilometers into the atmosphere, affecting areas across the United States.
Fifty-seven people lost their lives, and entire towns were devastated by ashfall and mudflows.
The event became one of the most studied volcanic eruptions in history, advancing eruption prediction and monitoring techniques.
Ecologists later documented the area's remarkable ecological recovery, offering insights into natural regeneration after disaster.
1980
Mount St. Helens
erupts
Washington
2015day.year
At least 78 people die in a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Colombian town of Salgar.
Heavy rains triggered a deadly landslide in Salgar, Colombia, on May 18, 2015, killing at least 78 people. The disaster devastated entire neighborhoods along the riverbanks.
On May 18, 2015, torrential rains caused a massive landslide along the Nevado del Ruiz volcano’s slopes, devastating the town of Salgar in southwestern Colombia. Floodwaters and mud swept through river valleys, engulfing homes, farms, and roads before dawn. Rescue teams worked amid unstable terrain and rising waters to locate survivors and recover victims. At least 78 people lost their lives, while dozens more were injured or reported missing. Entire families were buried under tons of debris, prompting urgent appeals for emergency aid and medical assistance. The Colombian government declared a state of disaster, mobilizing military engineers and relief organizations. In the aftermath, authorities studied land use practices, warning systems, and deforestation's role in exacerbating the catastrophe. The Salgar landslide underscored the dangers of unregulated construction in high-risk areas.
2015
landslide
Salgar
2018day.year
Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 crashes in Santiago de las Vegas after takeoff from José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba, killing 112 of the 113 people on board.
Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 crashed shortly after takeoff from Havana on May 18, 2018, killing 112 of the 113 people on board. The disaster was Cuba's deadliest aviation accident in decades.
On May 18, 2018, Cubana de Aviación Flight 972, a domestic passenger flight, plunged into a residential area near Santiago de las Vegas shortly after departing José Martí International Airport in Havana. The Boeing 737-200 was en route to Holguín when it experienced engine failure and crashed into a small community. Local rescuers and medical teams rushed to the scene, finding the wreckage ablaze and residents in shock. Authorities confirmed that 112 people perished, with only one survivor pulled from the debris. The Cuban government launched an investigation into maintenance practices and the aircraft's age. The tragedy prompted Cuba to ground its aging fleet of Soviet-era planes pending safety audits. International aviation experts offered assistance, highlighting challenges of operating older aircraft under economic constraints. The Flight 972 disaster remains a somber reminder of the importance of rigorous maintenance and oversight in civil aviation.
Cubana de Aviación Flight 972
Santiago de las Vegas
José Martí International Airport
Havana