1888day.year
The Rio de la Plata earthquake takes place.
On June 5, 1888, a strong earthquake struck the Rio de la Plata region, shaking parts of Argentina and Uruguay and causing widespread alarm. Although damage was limited, the tremor remains one of the most notable in the area's recorded history.
A powerful earthquake struck the Rio de la Plata basin on June 5, 1888, with tremors felt from Buenos Aires in Argentina to Montevideo in Uruguay. Contemporary accounts describe buildings swaying, church bells ringing, and residents rushing into the streets in fear. Despite the intensity of the shaking, structural damage was relatively minor, though fractured walls and fallen chimneys were reported in several neighborhoods. Dozens of aftershocks followed in the hours and days after the main event, prolonging local anxiety. The quake spurred early interest among South American scientists in studying the region’s seismic activity and geological faults. Newspapers of the time published eyewitness testimonies that highlighted both the panic and the community solidarity in its aftermath. While casualties were minimal, the 1888 earthquake remains one of the most significant seismic episodes in the river plate area’s documented history. It serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of earthquakes even in regions not typically associated with high seismic risk.
1888
Rio de la Plata earthquake
1946day.year
A fire in the La Salle Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, kills 61 people.
A devastating fire breaks out at Chicago's La Salle Hotel, claiming 61 lives and prompting widespread changes in building safety regulations.
On June 5, 1946, a fire engulfed the historic La Salle Hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
The blaze spread rapidly through the aged wooden structure, trapping guests and staff on upper floors.
Firefighters battled the flames for hours amid intense heat and heavy smoke.
Ultimately, 61 people perished in the tragedy, making it one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history.
Investigations revealed inadequate fire escapes and outdated safety measures as key factors in the high death toll.
In response, city officials enacted stricter fire codes and modernized emergency protocols to prevent similar disasters.
1946
La Salle Hotel
Illinois
1976day.year
The Teton Dam in Idaho, United States, collapses. Eleven people are killed as a result of flooding.
The catastrophic collapse of Idaho's Teton Dam unleashes devastating floods, claiming eleven lives.
On June 5, 1976, the newly completed Teton Dam in southeastern Idaho catastrophically failed, sending a massive surge of water downstream.
The collapse released over 200,000 acre-feet of water, inundating agricultural land, homes, and communities along the Teton River.
Eleven people lost their lives, and extensive property and infrastructural damage occurred over a 25-mile stretch.
Investigations pointed to geological instability and design flaws in the earthen dam's foundation.
The disaster prompted significant changes in U.S. dam safety regulations and inspection practices.
Communities rebuilt over subsequent years, but scars from the flood remain part of local memory and engineering lessons worldwide.
The Teton Dam failure marked one of America's most significant civilian dam disasters.
1976
Teton Dam
Idaho
1983day.year
More than 100 people are killed when the Russian river cruise ship Aleksandr Suvorov collides with a girder of the Ulyanovsk Railway Bridge. The collision caused a freight train to derail, further damaging the vessel, yet the ship remained afloat and was eventually restored and returned to service.
A Russian cruise ship collides with a railway bridge girder, causing over 100 deaths and major damage.
On June 5, 1983, the river cruise ship Aleksandr Suvorov struck a support girder of the Ulyanovsk Railway Bridge on the Volga River.
The impact caused a freight train on the bridge to derail, sending wreckage into the water and further damaging the vessel.
Despite the catastrophic collision and sinking threats, the ship remained afloat, and many passengers were rescued.
More than 100 lives were lost in the accident, making it one of the deadliest river cruise disasters in Soviet history.
Salvage teams eventually restored the Aleksandr Suvorov, and it returned to service after extensive repairs.
The incident led to stricter safety protocols for river navigation and bridge security across the Soviet Union.
The tragedy remains a sobering reminder of the risks in inland waterway travel.
1983
Aleksandr Suvorov
Ulyanovsk
derail
1993day.year
Portions of the Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK, fall into the sea following a landslide.
In 1993, parts of the Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough collapsed into the sea after a landslide.
On June 5, 1993, a significant landslide struck the Boggle Hole cliffs of Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
The unstable cliff face gave way beneath the Holbeck Hall Hotel, causing large sections of the building to plunge into the North Sea.
Around 50 guests were evacuated safely as the hotel’s foundation was undermined by rising groundwater and erosion.
The dramatic event highlighted growing concerns over coastal erosion and cliff stability in the region.
The collapsed hotel became an iconic reminder of the power of natural forces along England’s coastline.
1993
Holbeck Hall Hotel
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
2001day.year
Tropical Storm Allison makes landfall on the upper-Texas coastline as a strong tropical storm and dumps large amounts of rain over Houston. The storm causes $5.5 billion in damages, making Allison the second costliest tropical storm in U.S. history.
Tropical Storm Allison made landfall in Texas in 2001, unleashing record-breaking rainfall over Houston.
On June 5, 2001, Tropical Storm Allison struck the upper Texas coast as a strong tropical storm, bringing intense rainfall to the Houston area.
Over the following days, stalled storm systems dropped more than 1,000 millimeters of rain in some parts, causing widespread flooding.
The resulting deluge inundated homes, businesses, and major highways, crippling city infrastructure.
With damages totaling $5.5 billion, Allison became the second-costliest tropical storm in U.S. history.
The storm prompted reviews of flood control measures and led to improvements in urban drainage and emergency response.
2001
Tropical Storm Allison
Texas
2009day.year
A fire at a day-care center kills 49 people in Hermosillo, Mexico.
A devastating fire at a day-care center in Hermosillo, Mexico, kills 49 people, most of them toddlers, and shocks the nation.
On June 5, 2009, a fire broke out at the ABC Day-Care Center in Hermosillo, Sonora, swiftly engulfing the building in flames. Faulty wiring and overcrowded facilities contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. The tragedy claimed the lives of 49 people, the majority of them toddlers. Survivors and families were left traumatized by the sudden loss, leading to widespread public outrage. Investigations revealed lapses in safety protocols and alleged irregularities in construction and licensing. The incident prompted national calls for stricter regulations on child-care facilities. It remains one of the deadliest day-care fires in modern history and a somber reminder of the importance of building safety standards.
fire at a day-care center
Hermosillo
2015day.year
An earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.0 strikes Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia, killing 18 people, including hikers and mountain guides on Mount Kinabalu, after mass landslides that occurred during the earthquake. This is the strongest earthquake to strike Malaysia since 1975.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes near Ranau in Sabah, Malaysia, triggering deadly landslides on Mount Kinabalu and killing 18 people.
On June 5, 2015, a moment magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Ranau in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. The quake triggered massive landslides on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia's highest peak. Dozens of hikers and local mountain guides were caught in the debris, resulting in 18 fatalities. It was the strongest earthquake to hit Malaysia since 1975, causing widespread shock across the region. Rescue teams faced treacherous conditions and unstable terrain as they searched for survivors. The tragedy led to the temporary closure of the national park and a review of safety protocols for mountain climbers. Local communities and authorities worked together in relief efforts, highlighting the region's resilience in the face of natural disasters.
2015
earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.0
Mount Kinabalu