Summary of the Day ✨ 12 January (12/01)
A devastating earthquake struck Haiti, killing between 220,000 and 300,000 people and destroying much of the capital Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, Taal Volcano erupted in the Philippines claiming 39 lives, a bombing near Istanbul’s Blue Mosque killed 10 people, Cameroonian forces killed 143 Boko Haram fighters, and violent anti-austerity protests erupted across Romania.
Historical Events 📜
- 2020: Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupts and kills 39 people.
- 2016: Ten people are killed and 15 wounded in a bombing near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
- 2015: Government raids kill 143 Boko Haram fighters in Kolofata, Cameroon.
- 2012: Violent protests occur in Bucharest, Romania, as two-day-old demonstrations continue against President Traian Băsescu’s economic austerity measures. Clashes are reported in numerous Romanian cities between protesters and law enforcement officers.
- 2010: An earthquake in Haiti occurs, killing between 220,000 and 300,000 people and destroying much of the capital Port-au-Prince.
- 2007: Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught), one of the brightest comets ever observed is at its zenith visible during the day.
- 2006: A stampede during the Stoning of the Devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills at least 362 Muslim pilgrims.
- 2005: Deep Impact launches from Cape Canaveral on a Delta II rocket.
- 2004: The world’s largest ocean liner, RMS Queen Mary 2, makes its maiden voyage.
- 2001: Downtown Disney opens to the public as part of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
- 1998: Nineteen European nations agree to forbid human cloning.
- 1997: Space Shuttle program: Atlantis launches from the Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-81 to the Russian space station Mir, carrying astronaut Jerry M. Linenger for a four-month stay on board the station, replacing astronaut John E. Blaha.
- 1991: Persian Gulf War: An act of the U.S. Congress authorizes the use of American military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.
- 1990: A seven-day pogrom breaks out against the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan, during which Armenians were beaten, tortured, murdered, and expelled from the city.
- 1986: Space Shuttle program: Congressman and future NASA Administrator Bill Nelson lifts off from Kennedy Space Center aboard Columbia on mission STS-61-C as a payload specialist.
Famous Births 👶
- 2012: Artem Kotenko, Ukrainian singer
- 2005: Yuika, Japanese singer-songwriter
- 2002: Eva Lys, German tennis player
- 2001: Sam LaPorta, American football player
- 2000: Sven Botman, Dutch footballer
- 1999: Xavier Tillman, American basketball player
- 1999: Tyler Roberts, Welsh footballer
- 1998: Juan Foyth, Argentinian footballer
- 1997: Darius Slayton, American football player
- 1996: Ella Henderson, English singer and songwriter
- 1995: Allisha Gray, American basketball player
- 1995: Mike McGlinchey, American football player
- 1994: Emre Can, German footballer
- 1993: Jamel Artis, American basketball player
- 1993: D.O., South Korean singer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2026: Rick Garcia (activist), American LGBTQ rights activist (born 1956)
- 2025: Leslie Charleson, American actress (born 1945)
- 2025: Claude Jarman Jr., American actor and producer (born 1934)
- 2023: Lisa Marie Presley, American singer-songwriter (born 1968)
- 2023: Sharad Yadav, Indian politician, 30th Minister of Civil Aviation, 29th Labour Minister (born 1947)
- 2022: Ronnie Spector, American singer (born 1943)
- 2020: Sir Roger Scruton, English philosopher and writer (born 1944)
- 2018: Keith Jackson, American sports commentator and journalist (born 1928)
- 2017: William Peter Blatty, American writer and filmmaker (born 1928)
- 2017: Graham Taylor, English football player and manager (born 1944)
- 2015: Trevor Colbourn, American historian and academic (born 1927)
- 2015: Robert Gover, American journalist and author (born 1929)
- 2015: Carl Long, American baseball player (born 1935)
- 2015: Elena Obraztsova, Russian soprano and actress (born 1939)
- 2015: Inge Vermeulen, Brazilian-Dutch field hockey player (born 1985)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Aelred of Rievaulx - Christian feast day:
Benedict Biscop - Christian feast day:
Bernard of Corleone - Christian feast day:
Marguerite Bourgeoys - Christian feast day:
Tatiana - Christian feast day:
January 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Memorial Day (Turkmenistan)
- National Youth Day (India)
- Prosecutor General’s Day (Russia)
- Yennayer (Algeria)
- Zanzibar Revolution Day (Tanzania)