Summary of the Day ✨ 8 October (08/10)
Violent conflicts and natural disasters caused widespread devastation, including Azerbaijan’s targeting of a historic church in Nagorno-Karabakh, Hurricane Matthew’s near-900 death toll, and a catastrophic Kashmir earthquake that left thousands dead and millions homeless. Meanwhile, environmental activists staged a major protest at Ireland’s parliament while the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States succumbed to the disease.
Historical Events 📜
- 2020: Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Azerbaijan twice deliberately targeted the Church of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots of Shusha.
- 2019: About 200 Extinction Rebellion activists block the gates of Leinster House (parliament) in the Republic of Ireland.
- 2016: In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the death toll rises to nearly 900.
- 2014: Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with Ebola, dies.
- 2005: The 7.6 Mw Kashmir earthquake leaves 86,000–87,351 people dead, 69,000–75,266 injured, and 2.8 million homeless.
- 2001: A twin engine Cessna and a Scandinavian Airlines System jetliner collide in heavy fog during takeoff from Milan, Italy, killing 118 people.
- 2001: U.S. president George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security.
- 1991: Upon the expiration of the Brioni Agreement, Croatia and Slovenia sever all official relations with Yugoslavia.
- 1990: First Intifada: Israeli police kill 17 Palestinians and wound over 100 near the Dome of the Rock.
- 1986: An explosion occurred at the Cipel-Marco fur factory in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, killing 14 and injuring 10.
- 1982: Poland bans Solidarity and all other trade unions.
- 1978: Australia’s Ken Warby sets the current world water speed record of 275.97 knots at Blowering Dam, Australia.
- 1974: Franklin National Bank collapses due to fraud and mismanagement; at the time it is the largest bank failure in the history of the United States.
- 1973: Yom Kippur War: Israel loses more than 150 tanks in a failed attack on Egyptian-occupied positions.
- 1973: Spyros Markezinis begins his 48-day term as prime minister in an abortive attempt to lead Greece to parliamentary rule.
Famous Births 👶
- 2003: Ángela Aguilar, Mexican-American singer
- 2002: Brian Thomas Jr., American football player
- 2002: Zheng Qinwen, Chinese tennis player
- 1999: Putthipong Assaratanakul, Thai actor and singer
- 1999: Camila Rossi, Brazilian rhythmic gymnast
- 1997: Bella Thorne, American actress
- 1996: Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spanish tennis player
- 1996: Sara Takanashi, Japanese ski jumper
- 1995: Grayson Allen, American basketball player
- 1995: G Herbo, American rapper
- 1993: Angus T. Jones, American actor
- 1993: Garbiñe Muguruza, Spanish tennis player
- 1993: Molly Quinn, American actress and producer
- 1993: Bubba Wallace, American race car driver
- 1992: Chelsea Gray, American basketball player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Miguel Ángel Russo, Argentine footballer and manager (born 1956)
- 2024: Pat Fischer, American football player (born 1940)
- 2024: Tim Johnson, American lawyer and politician (born 1946)
- 2024: Luis Tiant, Cuban baseball player (born 1940)
- 2020: Whitey Ford, American professional baseball pitcher (born 1928)
- 2015: Richard Davies, Welsh-English actor (born 1926)
- 2015: Jim Diamond, Scottish singer-songwriter (born 1951)
- 2015: Dennis Eichhorn, American author and illustrator (born 1945)
- 2015: Lindy Infante, American football player and coach (born 1940)
- 2015: Paul Prudhomme, American chef and author (born 1940)
- 2014: Morris Lurie, Australian author and playwright (born 1938)
- 2014: Alden E. Matthews, American missionary (born 1921)
- 2014: Harden M. McConnell, American chemist and academic (born 1927)
- 2014: Zilpha Keatley Snyder, American author (born 1927)
- 2014: Jeen van den Berg, Dutch speed skater (born 1928)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Evodus (or Yves) - Christian feast day:
Palatias and Laurentia - Christian feast day:
Pelagia (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches) - Christian feast day:
Reparata - Christian feast day:
San Ernesto, Che Guevara as a folk saint. (Bolivian campesinos) - Christian feast day:
Simeon (Gospel of Luke) - Christian feast day:
Thaïs - Christian feast day:
William Dwight Porter Bliss and Richard T. Ely (Episcopal Church) - Christian feast day:
October 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - World Space Week (October 4–10)
- Air Force Day (India)
- Children’s Day (Iran)
- Navy Day (Peru)
- International Lesbian Day
- National Fluffernutter Day