December

In December 2022, a devastating landslide at a popular campsite in Batang Kali, Malaysia, resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people, highlighting the need for improved safety regulations in landslide-prone areas.

The Arab Spring began in Tunisia on December 17, 2010, ignited by Mohamed Bouazizi's protest through self-immolation, leading to widespread uprisings and the toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

On December 18, 2017, a passenger train in Washington derailed on its inaugural run on a new route, leading to catastrophic injuries, fatalities, and significant infrastructure damage.

The Berlin truck attack on December 19, 2016, was a deadly terrorist event that highlighted vulnerabilities in European security and immigration systems.

A tragic navigational error during approach led to the crash of American Airlines Flight 965 in Colombia, resulting in significant loss of life and prompting changes in aviation safety.

On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was downed by a bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, resulting in 270 deaths. The attack's impact rippled through the aviation industry, leading to significant security reforms and a prolonged hunt for justice.

On December 22, 2018, a devastating tsunami struck the Sunda Strait in Indonesia, triggered by the collapse of Mount Anak Krakatoa's volcanic flank.

A devastating earthquake struck Managua, Nicaragua, on December 23, 1972, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life.

Typhoon Phanfone, also known as Typhoon Ursula, struck the central Philippines on December 24, 2019, causing widespread devastation across multiple provinces and affecting millions of residents.

The Exxon Valdez oil spill on March 24, 1989, in Prince William Sound, was one of history's worst environmental disasters, resulting in significant ecological and economic loss.

Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, Australia, on December 24-25, 1974, leaving the city in ruins and prompting a massive recovery operation.

The story of LANSA Flight 508, which crashed in the Peruvian Amazon on December 24, 1971, resulting in 91 casualties and the miraculous survival of Juliane Koepcke.

On December 25, 2016, a Russian military aircraft crashed into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff from Sochi, killing all 92 on board, including members of the Alexandrov Ensemble.

Over nearly a decade, Juana Barraza, known as "La Mataviejitas," terrorized elderly women in Mexico City. Her reign of fear lasted from the late 1990s until her capture in 2006, leaving a profound impact on law enforcement practices and the community.

On December 26, 2015, a powerful EF4 tornado ravaged Garland, Texas, leaving a trail of destruction. This tornado was part of a larger outbreak that shocked the southern United States.

On December 27, 1939, a catastrophic earthquake struck Erzincan, Eastern Turkey, claiming thousands of lives and leaving a path of destruction.

On December 28, 2014, Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 disappeared over the Java Sea. It was later found to have crashed due to technical failure and pilot error, resulting in the loss of all on board.

The ferry MV Senopati Nusantara capsized in a violent storm on December 29, 2006, in the Java Sea, leading to the tragic loss of many lives and sparking a reevaluation of maritime safety in Indonesia.

A tragic aviation accident on December 29, 1972, in the Florida Everglades, led to significant changes in aviation safety protocols.

The Cromañón nightclub fire in Buenos Aires in 2004 stands as one of the deadliest nightclub tragedies in history, where a devastating fire during a concert led to numerous fatalities and significant societal repercussions.

A devastating gas explosion led to the partial collapse of a residential building in Magnitogorsk, Russia, on December 31, 2018, resulting in 39 fatalities.

A rare and destructive weather event marked New Year's Eve 2010 as a series of tornadoes tore across the Midwest, causing substantial damage across Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas.