March 31
1995
Murder of Selena
On March 31, 1995, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez—a beloved Tejano singer and cultural icon—was fatally shot by her former fan club president, Yolanda Saldívar, at a Corpus Christi motel. Selena’s death shocked millions of fans, devastated the Mexican-American community, and left lasting impacts on music and celebrity culture. Read more
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Explore more events in March
Mar 16
The Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill
In March 1978, the supertanker Amoco Cadiz ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France, releasing its entire cargo of crude oil into the sea. The resulting spill was, at the time, the world’s largest, devastating 200 miles of pristine coastline, killing tens of thousands of seabirds, and transforming approaches to tanker safety and spill response worldwide.
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Mar 22
The 2014 Oso Mudslide
The Oso Mudslide of March 22, 2014, swept through a rural Washington neighborhood, killing 43 people and destroying nearly 50 homes—the deadliest landslide in U.S. history. It catalyzed changes in landslide hazard awareness, emergency response, and community resilience.
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Mar 26
Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse (Baltimore)
In the early hours of March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was struck by the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Dali after the vessel lost power. The resulting collision caused a catastrophic collapse, plunging vehicles and construction workers into the Patapsco River, halting port operations, and triggering a widespread investigation and massive recovery effort.
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