Alaska Oil Spill – March 24, 1989

9 years ago

From the moment an oil tanker arrived at the port of Valdez to load oil, every aspect of the operation…

Armenia Earthquake – December 7, 1988

9 years ago

Armenia at the time was part of the USSR and at war with a neighboring country, Azerbaijan, over territory. Hence…

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident – Ukraine – April 26, 1986

9 years ago

The reactor in one of the units lost its cooling water, heat built up, and radioactive gas burst out and…

Challenger Fire/Explosion – Florida – January 28, 1986

9 years ago

All seven astronauts were killed and the accident gave rise to new, stringent, regulations about decisions on launching. Shortly before…

Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Eruption – Colombia – November 13, 1985

9 years ago

Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz erupted and mudflows swept down from a height of 17,500 feet. On November 13, 1985, Colombia’s…

Mexico Earthquake – September 19, 1985

9 years ago

This was one of the most destructive and deadly in Mexico’s history. On September 19, 1985, Mexico was hit with…

Air Terrorism – June 23, 1985

9 years ago

These terrorists had been fighting for an independent state within their home country of India but they decided it would…

Bhopal Gas Poisoning – India – December 3, 1984

9 years ago

Union Carbide’s factory was built to provide insecticide for India’s farmers so they would not lose crops. When demand for…

Teton Dam Collapse – Idaho – June 5, 1976

9 years ago

Through neglect of the advice of geological experts, this dam was built on unstable ground that failed when the dam…

Seveso Dioxin Spill – Italy – July 10, 1976

9 years ago

Due to faulty understanding of the chemical processes involved, workers allowed substantial quantities of dioxin to escape into the community…