Discover · History

On this day — July 18

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

2019

Disaster

A man sets fire to an anime studio in Fushimi-ku

Kyoto, Japan, killing 36 people and injuring dozens of others.

2014

Milestone

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant requires Christians to either accept dhimmi status

emigrate from ISIL lands, or be killed.

2013

Milestone

The Government of Detroit, with up to $20 billion in debt, files for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S

history.

2012

Milestone

At least seven people are killed and 32 others are injured after a bomb explodes on an Israeli tour bus at Burgas Airport, Bulgaria.

2002

Milestone

A Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer crashes near Estes Park

Colorado, killing both crew members.

1996

Disaster

Storms provoke severe flooding on the Saguenay River

beginning one of Quebec's costliest natural disasters ever.

1996

Milestone

Battle of Mullaitivu

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam capture the Sri Lanka Army's base, killing over 1,200 soldiers.

1995

Disaster

On the Caribbean island of Montserrat, the Soufrière Hills volcano erupts

Over the course of several years, it devastates the island, destroying the capital, forcing most of the population to flee.

1994

Milestone

The bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Argentine Jewish Community Center) in Buenos Aires kills 85 people (mostly Jewish) and injures 300.

1994

Milestone

Rwandan genocide

The Rwandan Patriotic Front takes control of Gisenyi and north western Rwanda, forcing the interim government into Zaire and ending the genocide.

1992

Milestone

A picture of Les Horribles Cernettes was taken

which became the first ever photo posted to the World Wide Web.

1984

Milestone

McDonald's massacre in San Ysidro, California

James Oliver Huberty kills 21 people and injures 19 others before being shot dead by police.

1982

Milestone

Two hundred sixty-eight Guatemalan campesinos ("peasants" or "country people") are slain in the Plan de Sánchez massacre.

1981

Milestone

A Canadair CL-44 and Sukhoi Su-15 collide in mid-air near Yerevan

Armenia, killing four.

1979

Disaster

A landslide occurs on the Iliwerung volcano in Indonesia

triggering a tsunami that kills over 530 and leaves 700 missing.