February

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.

A tragic bus accident in Tai Po, Hong Kong, claimed 19 lives and injured 65, sparking demands for major safety reforms in public transportation.

On February 11, 2018, near Moscow, Russia, Saratov Airlines Flight 703 crashed shortly after takeoff, tragically claiming all 71 lives onboard. The disaster was attributed to icing of the aircraft's Pitot tubes and pilot error.

A devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Hualien City, Taiwan, on February 6, 2018, causing significant destruction and loss of life.

On February 14, 2018, a tragic event unfolded at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student, carried out a deadly school shooting. The incident resulted in the loss of 17 lives and sparked national discussions on gun control and school safety.

A devastating earthquake struck southern Taiwan in February 2016, leading to significant casualties and uncovering flaws in building construction, prompting widespread reforms.

A tragic mass shooting at Excel Industries in Kansas, carried out by employee Cedric Ford, left three dead and fourteen injured, testing community resilience and sparking debate on workplace safety and gun laws.

The 2015 Haiti Carnival Stampede resulted in 18 deaths and over 78 injuries after an electrical accident triggered a panic.

A tragic aviation disaster that claimed 43 lives after a flight crew error led to a crash into Taipei's Keelung River on February 4, 2015.

On a bustling evening in February 2013, the vibrant heartbeat of Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar district was shattered by two devastating explosions.

On the night of February 2, 2012, the passenger ferry MV Rabaul Queen sank off Cape Gazelle near Kokopo, East New Britain Province, in the Bismarck Sea. The ship foundered in heavy seas and strong winds; local fishing boats undertook the first rescues, while provincial and national authorities later mounted broader search-and-rescue and recovery operations. Unreliable passenger manifests, questions about overloading and safety equipment, and long‑standing regulatory weaknesses in Papua New Guinea’s inter-island ferry system turned the sinking into one of the country’s deadliest peacetime maritime disasters.

A tragic ferry disaster off the coast of Papua New Guinea on February 2, 2012, resulting in over 170 deaths and sparking significant maritime safety reforms.

A football match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly turned deadly in 2012, exposing deep societal issues in Egypt.

A tragic encounter that sparked a national conversation on race, justice, and self-defense laws in the United States.

A devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, on February 22, 2011, causing widespread destruction and loss of life, prompting a massive rescue and rebuilding effort.

On February 27, 2010, a devastating magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck central and southern Chile, leading to widespread destruction and subsequent tsunamis.

A devastating blizzard swept across Iran in early February 1972, burying entire communities under unprecedented snowfalls and claiming the lives of approximately 4,000 people. This catastrophic event highlighted significant gaps in disaster preparedness and became one of history's deadliest blizzards.

A scheduled passenger flight from Newark to Buffalo crashed in Clarence Center, New York, on February 12, 2009, resulting in 50 fatalities and significant changes to airline safety regulations.

The Black Saturday Bushfires of February 7, 2009, in Victoria, Australia, marked one of the deadliest and most destructive fire events in the nation's history, driven by extreme weather and resulting in immense human, environmental, and economic tolls.

A deadly and destructive tornado outbreak coincided with the Super Tuesday elections, affecting the Southern United States predominantly.

In early February 2007, Jakarta, Indonesia was struck by catastrophic floods triggered by intense monsoon rains, leading to significant human and economic tolls.

A tragic explosion at the Pasta de Conchos coal mine in Coahuila, Mexico, led to the loss of 65 miners. The disaster highlighted critical lapses in mine safety and prompted calls for reform.

A colossal mudslide in Southern Leyte, Philippines, claimed over a thousand lives and highlighted the collision of natural forces and human impact on fragile environments.

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.

A fleeting moment during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show ignited an intense nationwide debate, leaving rippling effects on media standards and the careers of those involved.

A terrorist attack on the passenger ferry MV SuperFerry 14 resulted in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Philippine history.

A devastating earthquake struck the coastal city of Al Hoceima, Morocco on February 24, 2004, causing significant loss of life and property damage, and prompting reforms in disaster preparedness.

A military transport aircraft crash near Kerman, Iran, resulted in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Iranian history, claiming 275 lives.

On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia tragically disintegrated during re-entry over Texas, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members. This disaster sparked significant changes in NASA's safety protocols and shuttle operations.

The tragic fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, claimed 100 lives and reshaped fire safety standards nationwide.

A tragic aviation disaster occurred when Iran Air Tours Flight 956 crashed into the Zagros Mountains, highlighting critical issues within Iran's airline industry.

The tragic crash of Cebu Pacific Flight 387 on February 2, 1998, into Mount Sumagaya marked a dark day in the history of Philippine aviation, underscoring critical flaws in navigation protocols under challenging weather conditions.

The tragedy of China Airlines Flight 676 unfolded in 1998 when an international passenger flight from Bali to Taipei met a catastrophic end while attempting to land in adverse weather conditions. All 196 onboard perished, along with seven on the ground. The investigation unveiled crucial lapses in flight handling during a go-around maneuver.

On February 29, 1996, near Arequipa, Peru, Faucett Perú Flight 251 tragically crashed into a hill due to poor visibility and pilot disorientation, claiming all 123 lives on board.

A religious conflict turned deadly standoff between the Branch Davidians and federal agents, leading to 86 fatalities and ongoing debates about the use of force by law enforcement.

The 1993 World Trade Center bombing marked one of the first major terrorist attacks on American soil, orchestrated by Islamic terrorists led by Ramzi Yousef. Designed to cause large-scale destruction, the attack killed six people and injured over a thousand, underscoring vulnerabilities in public safety and prompting significant security reforms.

The tragic crash of Independent Air Flight 1851 into Pico Alto in the Azores on February 8, 1989, highlighted the severe consequences of miscommunication and human error in aviation.

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.

In early February 1982, Syrian government forces moved to retake the city of Hama after an armed uprising, unleashing a weeks‑long siege, heavy bombardment, and house‑to‑house operations that left large parts of the city destroyed and thousands dead. Casualty estimates remain contested—commonly cited ranges put the dead between roughly 10,000 and 40,000—while survivors, journalists and historians agree that the operation decisively crushed open Islamist armed resistance and reshaped Syrian politics for decades.

A chilling account of a tragic aviation disaster near Tokyo International Airport caused by a pilot's mental health crisis.

A bomb explosion outside the Sydney Hilton Hotel during an international conference shocked Australia on February 13, 1978, killing three and injuring others, sparking a continued debate on terrorism and security.

A devastating earthquake shook Guatemala on February 4, 1976, killing thousands and impacting millions with long-lasting effects on infrastructure and seismic awareness.

On February 15, 1961, Sabena Flight 548, a Boeing 707, crashed near Brussels, Belgium, claiming the lives of all on board, including the U.S. figure skating team.

The tragic crash of British European Airways Flight 609 on February 6, 1958, profoundly impacted the football world, especially Manchester United, due to the loss of key players, staff, and journalists.

A brutal and notorious gangland execution that marked the height of mob violence during Prohibition-era Chicago, unraveling the fierce battle between Al Capone and Bugs Moran.

The town of Springhill, Nova Scotia, was defined by coal — and by three catastrophic moments that punctured that identity: the firedamp and coal‑dust explosion of February 21, 1891; the seismic “bump” beneath No. 2 Colliery on November 1, 1956; and the far‑reaching bump and dramatic rescue that began on October 23, 1958. Each disaster exposed the same hidden hazard — deep seams and shifting rock — and left a community changed forever.