February 9

The Ash Wednesday bushfires, igniting on February 16, 1983, were catastrophic fires that ravaged Victoria and South Australia, fueled by record drought and high winds, leading to immense loss and subsequent policy reform.

The murder of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020, became a flashpoint in the national conversation about racial profiling and systemic racism, following his death at the hands of two men who falsely assumed his criminal intent because of their prejudices, while jogging in a Georgia neighborhood.

On February 18, 2004, a runaway train carrying hazardous materials derailed near Nishapur, Iran, leading to catastrophic explosions. The disaster resulted in significant loss of life and property damage, prompting improvements in rail safety protocols.