Disasters in 1969, page 2

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Disasters in 1969

NATURAL

January Nine straight days of rain caused the worst flooding in southern California in 32 years. Ninety-one persons were killed (12 in mud slides), and about 9,000 homes were destroyed.

January 3 An earthquake shook Iran, killing about 50 persons, injuring 300, and leaving 2,000 persons homeless.

January 23 Tornadoes killed 31 persons in southern Mississippi.

February 9 A record-breaking snowstorm crippled transportation and killed more than 160 persons in the northeastern United States.

February 24-27 New England was struck by snowstorms that killed at least 25 persons.

March 17 More than 200 persons were reported dead and about 5,000 homeless after a flash flood swept through northeastern Brazil.

March 28 At least 53 persons were killed and 350 others were injured when an earthquake struck western Turkey.

A bus is stopped by deep ruts caused by the Anatloia earthquake on the road between Izmir and Alasehir.

April 14 A tornado struck Dacca, East Pakistan, killing at least 531 persons and injuring more than 4,000.

June 15 At least 50 persons were killed when floodwaters from the Grande and Chiquito rivers swamped their homes in Honduras.

August 15-22 Hurricane Camile devastated Cuba and the coastal areas of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, killing more than 150 persons and leaving thousands more homeless. Heavy rains spawned by the hurricane caused flooding in West Virginia and Virginia.

Damage in Gulfport, Mississippi, left behind by Hurricane Camille.

September Hurricane Francelia caused flooding and major crop damage in central and southern Guatemala; 17 persons were killed and 50 were reported missing.

September 26-27 At least 47 persons were killed when a typhoon struck Taiwan.

September 29 An earthquake leveled three towns in Cape Province, South Africa; 11 persons were killed and morethan 1,000 were left homeless.

October 27 An earthquake destroyed much of Banja Luka, Yugoslavia, and completely destroyed three other towns; at least 20 persons were killed and about 400 were injured.

December 1-2 Massive waves battered the northern coast of Oahu, Hawaii, forcing more than 500 persons to evacuate.

December 26-27 A major snowstorm blanketed most of the northeastern United States, resulting in at least 24 deaths.

RAIL

January 25 Nineteen persons were reported injured and at least 30 homes were damaged when 26 tank cars filled with butane derailed and burst into flames at Laurel, Mississippi.

January 31 At least 35 persons were killed and 102 others injured when two passenger trains collided at Chonan, South Korea.

February 18 A freight train fell onto and ruptured two tank cars filled with anhydrous ammonia in Crete, Nebraska. Eight persons succumbed to fumes before the town could be evacuated.

March 21 A locomotive and a commuter train collided in São Paulo, Brazil, killing 30-40 persons.

March 25 Two passenger trains collided head-on at La Louvière, Belgium, killing 20 persons.

July 14 A freight train crashed into a passenger train in Jaipur, India, killing 85 Hindu pilgrims.

STRUCTURAL

June 15 More than 50 persons were killed and 175 injured when a new restaurant collapsed in Los Angeles de San Rafael, Spain.

VEHICULAR

March 2 A drag racing car lost control at more than 180 miles per hour at the Yellow River DragRacing Strip in Covington, Georgia, killing 11 spectators and injuring 50 others.

August 18 A truck crashed through the dining room of a hotel in Fraga, Spain, killing 7 persons and injuring 14 others.

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SKC Films Library >> In The Year... >> 1969

This page was last updated on October 26, 2017.