Summary of the Day ✨ 16 May (16/05)
Devastation struck multiple regions as an EF4 tornado claimed nineteen lives in Kentucky, explosions killed twelve in Nairobi, and terrorist attacks left thirty-three dead in Casablanca. In brighter news, Kuwait granted women’s suffrage and Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on its historic final mission.
Historical Events 📜
- 2025: A devastating EF4 tornado kills nineteen people in Southeast Kentucky, hitting the towns of Somerset and London.
- 2014: Twelve people are killed in two explosions in the Gikomba market area of Nairobi, Kenya.
- 2011: STS-134 (ISS assembly flight ULF6), launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the 25th and final flight for Space Shuttle Endeavour.
- 2005: Kuwait permits women’s suffrage in a 35–23 National Assembly vote.
- 2003: In Morocco, 33 civilians are killed and more than 100 people are injured in the Casablanca terrorist attacks.
- 1997: Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire, flees the country.
- 1991: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom addresses a joint session of the United States Congress. She is the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress.
- 1988: A report by the Surgeon General of the United States C. Everett Koop states that the addictive properties of nicotine are similar to those of heroin and cocaine.
- 1975: Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
- 1974: Josip Broz Tito is elected president for life of Yugoslavia.
- 1972: An Antonov An-24 crashes into a kindergarten building in Svetlogorsk, killing 35.
- 1969: Venera program: Venera 5, a Soviet space probe, lands on Venus.
- 1966: The Chinese Communist Party issues the “May 16 Notice”, marking the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.
- 1961: Park Chung Hee leads a coup d’état to overthrow the Second Republic of South Korea.
- 1960: Theodore Maiman operates the first optical laser (a ruby laser), at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California.
Famous Births 👶
- 2002: Ryan Gravenberch, Dutch footballer
- 2000: Luis Garcia, Dominican-American baseball player
- 1996: Louisa Chirico, American tennis player
- 1995: Elizabeth Ralston, Australian footballer
- 1994: Kathinka von Deichmann, Liechtenstein tennis player
- 1993: Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norwegian biathlete
- 1993: Karol Mets, Estonian footballer
- 1993: IU, Korean singer-songwriter and actress
- 1992: Jeff Skinner, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1992: Kirstin Maldonado, American singer and songwriter
- 1991: Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgarian tennis player
- 1991: Joey Graceffa, American internet celebrity
- 1991: Ashley Wagner, American figure skater
- 1990: Amanda Carreras, Gibraltarian tennis player
- 1990: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, English actor
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Domingos Maubere, East Timorese Catholic priest and activist (born 1952)
- 2024: Dabney Coleman, American actor (born 1932)
- 2024: Eddie Gossage, American public speaker and businessman (born 1958)
- 2023: Norm Green, American long-distance runner (born 1932)
- 2021: Bruno Covas, Brazilian lawyer, politician (born 1980)
- 2019: Piet Blauw, Dutch politician (born 1937)
- 2019: Bob Hawke, Australian politician, 23rd Prime Minister of Australia (born 1929)
- 2019: I. M. Pei, Chinese-American architect (born 1917)
- 2015: Prashant Bhargava, American director and producer (born 1973)
- 2015: Moshe Levinger, Israeli rabbi and author (born 1935)
- 2015: Flora MacNeil, Scottish Gaelic singer (born 1928)
- 2014: Chris Duckworth, Zimbabwean-South African cricketer (born 1933)
- 2014: Vito Favero, Italian cyclist (born 1932)
- 2014: Bud Hollowell, American baseball player and manager (born 1943)
- 2014: Clyde Snow, American anthropologist and author (born 1928)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Aaron (Coptic Church) - Christian feast day:
Abda and Abdjesus, and companions:
Abdas of Susa - Christian feast day:
Andrew Bobola - Christian feast day:
Brendan the Navigator (Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church) - Christian feast day:
Caroline Chisholm (Church of England) - Christian feast day:
Gemma Galgani (Passionists Calendar) - Christian feast day:
Germerius - Christian feast day:
Honoratus of Amiens - Christian feast day:
John of Nepomuk - Christian feast day:
Margaret of Cortona - Christian feast day:
Peregrine of Auxerre - Christian feast day:
Simon Stock - Christian feast day:
Ubald (see Saint Ubaldo Day) - Christian feast day:
May 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Martyrs of Sudan (Episcopal Church (USA))