Today in News History

On July 9, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 551, A major earthquake strikes Beirut, triggering a devastating tsunami that affects the coastal towns of Byzantine Phoenicia, causing thousands of deaths. In 869, The 8.4-9.0 Mw Sanriku earthquake strikes the area around Sendai in northern Honshu, Japan. Inundation from the tsunami extended several kilometers inland. In 1928, Federico Bahamontes, Spanish cyclist (died 2023) was born. In 1944, World War II: American forces take Saipan, bringing the Japanese archipelago within range of B-29 raids, and causing the downfall of the Tojo government. In 1956, The 7.7 Mw Amorgos earthquake shakes the Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The shaking and the destructive tsunami that followed left fifty-three people dead. A damaging M7.2 aftershock occurred minutes after the mainshock. In 1958, A 7.8 Mw strike-slip earthquake in Alaska causes a landslide that produces a megatsunami. The runup from the waves reached 525 m (1,722 ft) on the rim of Lituya Bay; five people were killed. In 1967, Fatima Jinnah, Pakistani dentist and politician (born 1893) passed away. In 1982, Sakon Yamamoto, Japanese race car driver was born. In 2011, A rally takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to call for fairer elections in the country. In 2012, Shin Jae-chul, South Korean-American martial artist (born 1936) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.