On this day — January 5

later motivating the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to define the term planet for the first time.

spilling 84,700 tons of crude oil.

the capital of South Ossetia, Georgia, opening the 1991–92 South Ossetia War.

The United States Embassy to Somalia in Mogadishu is evacuated by helicopter airlift days after the outbreak of violence in Mogadishu.

Gunmen shoot dead ten Protestant civilians after stopping their minibus at Kingsmill in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK, allegedly as retaliation for a string of attacks on Catholic civilians in the area by Loyalists, particularly the killing of six Catholics the night before.

Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, killing twelve people.

Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Between 10,000 and 15,000 people are known to have been killed and about another 26,000 are injured.

killing five people.