Mount St. Helens Volcanic Eruption – Washington – May 18, 1980

10 years ago

This was the most recent in the long history of volcanic eruptions in the Cascades. It had a VEI of…

Canada Sinking of Oil Platform – February 15, 1982

10 years ago

The Ocean Ranger was stationed at sea 170 miles east of Newfoundland. Because of inadequate preparations for windstorms 84 lives…

Coalinga Earthquake – California – May 2, 1983

10 years ago

Since no known faults had been identified in this area, no one expected this earthquake. On May 2, 1983, an…

Alaska Oil Spill – March 24, 1989

10 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

10 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

10 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

10 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

10 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

10 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

10 years ago

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