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What happened on December 26th?
Holidays were interrupted by one of the deadliest natural disasters in history
Matthew Jones
December 26, 2024
2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Claims More Than 200,000 Lives
On December 26th, 2004, while much of the world slept off the Christmas holiday, one of the largest recorded earthquakes in history struck off the coast of Sumatra, an island of Indonesia. The resulting tsunami struck Indonesia so quickly that there was little time for warning. Two hours later, the tsunami was still causing massive damage as it reached Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. As a result of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, worldwide efforts have bolstered tsunami warning systems and techniques.
This photo was taken during the 2004 tsunami in Ao Nang, Krabi Province, Thailand.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on December 26:
Today ─ Boxing Day is celebrated in the UK, Australia, and several other commonwealth nations. It originated in Great Britain as a day when the well-to-do would box up leftover food, spare gifts, and other items for their assistants and servants.
Today ─ In the US and several other countries, the seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa begins. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African and African-American cultures and the ties that bind them.
1985 ─ Dian Fosse, a renowned primatologist, was found dead in Rwanda, after more than 20 years of study and advocacy for the endangered mountain gorilla.
1973 ─ The Exorcist was released in the United States and quickly became one of the most popular horror films of all time, grossing more than $193 million and receiving 10 Academy Award nominations.
1963 ─ The Beatles' single “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was released in the US, eventually becoming the first Beatles song to hit #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Top 100.
1943 ─ The British battleship Duke of York sank the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst off the North Cape of Norway. Only 36 of the battlecruiser’s 1,968 crew survived.
1908 ─ American boxer Jack Johnson became the first African-American world heavyweight champion after defeating Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On December 26, we’re singing to:
Charles Babbage (1791) ─ British inventor and mathematician, who was considered the “father of the computer” for creating the first “difference engine,” a mechanical calculator.
Mao Zedong (1893) ─ Chinese leader known as “Chairman Mao,” who founded the People’s Republic of China and served as leader for 27 years.
Phil Spector (1940) ─ American record producer who produced the Beatles, Ike and Tina Turner, and many others before being convicted of the murder of Lana Clarkson.
Jared Leto (1971) ─ American actor and musician most famous for his roles in Blade Runner 2049, and the Dallas Buyer’s Club, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
🪦Who Died Today?
On December 26, we’re saying goodbye to:
Publius Septimius Geta (211) ─ Publius Septimius Geta, a Roman emperor who was murdered at the order of his brother, with whom he shared leadership for two fraught years.
Harry S. Truman (1972) ─ 33rd president of the United States, who took over during World War II after the death of Franklin Roosevelt and authorized the use of atomic bombs against Japan.
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