Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1170, A major earthquake hits Syria, badly damaging towns such as Hama and Shaizar and structures such as the Krak des Chevaliers and the cathedral of St. Peter in Antioch. In 1457, The Dutch city of Dordrecht is devastated by fire. In 1864, At least 99 people, mostly German and Polish immigrants, are killed in Canada's worst railway disaster after a train fails to stop for an open drawbridge and plunges into the Rivière Richelieu near St-Hilaire, Quebec. In 1880, Ludwig Beck, German general (died 1944) was born. In 1882, Franz Seldte, German captain and politician, Reich Minister for Labour (died 1947) was born. In 1906, Heinz Harmel, German general (died 2000) was born. In 1956, Pyotr Vasilevsky, Belarusian footballer and manager (died 2012) was born. In 1958, Dieter Althaus, German politician was born. In 1971, Prior to re-entry (following a record-setting stay aboard the Soviet Union's Salyut 1 space station), the crew capsule of the Soyuz 11 spacecraft depressurizes, killing the three cosmonauts on board. Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev are the first humans to die in space. In 1995, The Sampoong Department Store collapses in the Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, killing 502 and injuring 937. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.