Historical Events tagged with "mexico"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Sports & Recreation

Maradona's Hand of God and Goal of the Century

June 22nd, 1986 38 years ago

In the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Diego Maradona scored two infamous goals against England, leading Argentina to a 2–1 victory. The first goal, dubbed the 'Hand of God,' was controversial as Maradona used his hand to score, which went unnoticed by referees. This was followed by the legendary 'Goal of the Century,' where Maradona dribbled past multiple English players before scoring. Argentina advanced to the semi-finals and ultimately won the tournament.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Mexicana de Aviación Flight 940 Tragedy

March 31st, 1986 38 years ago

Mexicana de Aviación Flight 940 crashed into the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range near Maravatío, Mexico, resulting in the deaths of 167 passengers and crew members. The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control during its approach to Mexico City. Search and rescue teams faced challenges due to the remote and rugged terrain surrounding the crash site. The event marked one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Mexican history.

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Natural Disasters

Devastating Earthquake Strikes Mexico City

September 19th, 1985 39 years ago

A devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 8.1 struck Mexico City, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and the destruction of approximately 400 buildings. This catastrophic event occurred in the early morning hours and led to widespread chaos and destruction, highlighting the vulnerabilities of urban infrastructure in seismically active regions.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Explosions at Pemex Facility in Mexico City

November 19th, 1984 40 years ago

A catastrophic series of explosions occurred at the Pemex petroleum storage facility in San Juan Ixhuatepec, Mexico City, resulting in a major fire and approximately 500 fatalities. The incident began when a storage tank under renovation exploded, leading to multiple failures of nearby tanks and subsequent blasts. The explosions caused widespread destruction in the surrounding area, with many residential blocks being severely impacted. Emergency services faced significant difficulties in controlling the fire due to the scale of the disaster and lack of immediate resources.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Foundation of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation

November 17th, 1983 41 years ago

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) was established by a group of indigenous Mexicans and leftist activists in Chiapas, Mexico. Their aim was to fight against the Mexican government’s policies that disadvantaged indigenous communities. The group sought to promote social justice, human rights, and political reform, emphasizing the themes of land reclamation and autonomy for indigenous people. The founding leaders included Subcomandante Marcos, who later became the face of the movement. Their formation marked the beginning of a significant social movement that would influence politics and society in Mexico for decades to come.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Aeroméxico Flight 110 crashes near Zihuatanejo

November 8th, 1981 43 years ago

Aeroméxico Flight 110, a Douglas DC-9, crashed near Zihuatanejo, Mexico, killing all 18 people onboard. The flight was en route from Mexico City to Zihuatanejo, but shortly after takeoff, it experienced technical difficulties. The airliner lost altitude rapidly and went down in a mountainous region near the coast. Investigations revealed a combination of factors contributing to the mishap.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Aeromexico Flight 230 Overshoots Runway at Chihuahua

July 27th, 1981 43 years ago

While landing at Chihuahua International Airport, Aeromexico Flight 230, a Douglas DC-9, overshot the runway resulting in the tragic loss of 32 lives among the 66 passengers and crew on board. The flight was arriving from Mexico City when it encountered difficulties during landing, ultimately leading to its overshooting the airport runway.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Massive Oil Spill from Ixtoc I Well

June 3rd, 1979 45 years ago

The Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico experienced a blowout, resulting in the release of over 3 million barrels of crude oil into the ocean. This incident marked one of the most significant oil spills in history, affecting marine ecosystems and local economies. The blowout was caused by a failure in safety measures, and efforts to contain the spill took several months, involving international assistance and technological innovations in oil spill recovery.

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Religion & Philosophy

Pope John Paul II's First Papal Trip Abroad

January 25th, 1979 46 years ago

Pope John Paul II embarked on his first official papal visit outside of Italy, traveling to The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. This trip marked a significant step in his efforts to engage with the global Catholic community. It emphasized the importance of pastoral outreach, particularly in Latin America, where a substantial portion of the world's Catholics reside. His visits to these countries garnered great enthusiasm from the local populations, highlighting the Pope's commitment to fostering connections with diverse communities across the globe.

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