April 27
2011
The 2011 Super Outbreak
The 2011 Super Outbreak was one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, occurring over four days in April and leaving a path of destruction across the Southern, Midwestern, and Eastern United States, with Alabama facing the most severe impacts. Read more
1993
1993 Zambia National Football Team Plane Crash
On April 27, 1993, the Zambia national football team—nicknamed the “Chipolopolo”—perished when their military plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Gabonese coast near Libreville. All 30 onboard died, including 18 players, coaches, staff, and crew. The disaster devastated Zambian football, spurred national mourning, and led to enduring changes in air travel policy and aviation safety across Africa. Read more
1978
Willow Island Disaster
On April 27, 1978, a massive scaffold collapse at the Pleasants Power Station in Willow Island, West Virginia, killed 51 construction workers, making it the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history at the time. The tragedy exposed critical flaws in safety oversight, changed construction practices, and left a lasting mark on both regulatory policy and local communities. Read more
Stay in the Loop!
Become a Calamity Insider and get exclusive Calamity Calendar updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Thanks! You're now subscribed.
Explore more events in April
Apr 17
2010 Darra Adam Khel mosque bombing
On April 17, 2010, an explosive device detonated inside a mosque beside the busy weapons bazaar in Darra Adam Khel, Kohat District, Pakistan. The blast killed roughly three dozen people and wounded many more, shattering a small frontier town already shaped by trade in arms and the pressures of nearby insurgency. Investigations collected evidence but produced no widely publicized claim of responsibility or high‑profile prosecutions; the attack became one more painful marker in a period of recurrent violence that reshaped local security practices.
Read more
Apr 29
1992 Los Angeles Riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots were a series of violent confrontations and civil disturbances triggered by the acquittal of four LAPD officers filmed beating Rodney King, revealing deep-rooted racial and economic tensions in the city.
Read more
Apr 5
Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster
On April 5, 2010, a massive explosion ripped through the Upper Big Branch coal mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killing 29 miners. The deadliest U.S. mine accident in decades, it exposed deep failings in mine safety practices and corporate responsibility, ultimately transforming regulation and accountability in the coal industry.
Read more