Discover · History

On this day — December 9

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

2021

Milestone

Fifty-five people are killed and more than 100 injured when a truck with 160 migrants from Central America overturned in Chiapas, Mexico.

2019

Disaster

A volcano on Whakaari / White Island

New Zealand, kills 22 people after it erupts.

2017

Milestone

The Marriage Amendment Bill receives royal assent and comes into effect

making Australia the 26th country to legalize same-sex marriage.

2016

Politics

President Park Geun-hye of South Korea is impeached by the country's National Assembly in response to a major political scandal.

2016

Milestone

At least 57 people are killed and a further 177 injured when two schoolgirl suicide bombers attack a market area in Madagali, Adamawa, Nigeria in the Madagali suicide bombings.

2013

Milestone

At least seven are dead and 63 are injured following a train accident near Bintaro

Indonesia.

2012

Milestone

A plane crash in Mexico kills seven people including singer Jenni Rivera.

2008

Politics

Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is arrested by federal officials for crimes including attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

2006

Science

Space Shuttle program

Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-116 carrying the P5 truss segment of the International Space Station.

2003

Milestone

A blast in the center of Moscow kills six people and wounds several more.

1996

Milestone

Gwen Jacob is acquitted of committing an indecent act

giving women the right to be topless in Ontario, Canada.

1992

Milestone

American troops land in Somalia for Operation Restore Hope.

1987

Milestone

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

The First Intifada begins in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

1979

Milestone

The eradication of the smallpox virus is certified

making smallpox the first of only two diseases that have been driven to extinction (with rinderpest in 2011 being the other).

1973

Milestone

British and Irish authorities sign the Sunningdale Agreement in an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland.