On April 15, 1912, the British ocean liner Titanic went down in the North Atlantic while making its first journey from Southampton to New York City. It hit an iceberg and sank, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew. Only 710 people made it out alive. Also on this day in 2013, two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line in Massachusetts. The blasts killed three people and left over 260 others injured. And on this day in 2019, a massive fire broke out at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris while restoration work was underway. Flames tore through the upper section of the iconic building, destroying its roof, the 19th-century spire, and part of the internal vaulted ceiling. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series,
History Today , will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
Sinking of the Titanic
In the early hours of April 15, 1912, the British luxury passenger liner Titanic sank beneath the surface of the North Atlantic, around 400 miles south of Newfoundland in Canada. The ship, which was carrying roughly 2,200 people, had struck an iceberg just over two hours earlier. Just a few days before, on April 10, the RMS Titanic had set off from Southampton on its first transatlantic journey. Considered one of the most grand and sizeable liners of its time, the ship was built in Belfast and designed by Irish shipbuilder William Pirrie. It measured 883 feet in length and featured 16 hull compartments, thought to be watertight. The ship made brief stops in Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown, Ireland, before sailing at top speed towards New York. But shortly before midnight on April 14, the Titanic struck an iceberg. The impact tore open at least five compartments, causing water to flood in and the bow of the ship to tilt downward. At approximately 2:18 am, the ship’s power failed. Moments later, it split into two and the front section sank. Later reports estimated that this part of the ship took about six minutes to reach the ocean floor, travelling at nearly 48 km/h. Due to an insufficient number of lifeboats and poor emergency planning, over 1,500 passengers and crew died, either by drowning or from exposure to the icy waters. Among the 700 or so who survived, most were women and children.
Massive fire ravages Paris’ Notre-Dame
On this day in 2019, a fire tore through the upper sections of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral while restoration work was underway, which drew global attention to the historic landmark. The cathedral was in the middle of a major renovation when, during a mass on April 15 at 6:18 pm, the church’s alarm system signalled a fire. However, confusion among the staff meant the blaze went unnoticed for nearly 30 minutes. By the time the oversight was discovered, the flames had already spread throughout the attic, an intricate wooden lattice supporting the church’s lead-covered roof. Only then were emergency services contacted. Firefighters, delayed by both the initial mix-up and traffic congestion in Paris, arrived at the scene around 7:00 pm. But by then, the fire had already breached the roof. Crews made risky attempts to climb the 300 steps to the attic but were forced back by the intensity of the flames. Over 400 firefighters fought the inferno. By 9:45 pm, much of the northern tower was under control, and they worked through the night to suppress the rest. By the next morning, the blaze had destroyed most of the roof and some of the ribbed vaulting. Notably, no one was seriously injured. Many of the cathedral’s religious relics and artworks were rescued, and the iconic rose windows remained unharmed. The incident became a global moment, with social media users witnessing visible smoke from as early as 6:52 pm. Crowds gathered, both in person and online, watching the iconic landmark engulfed in flames." Notre-Dame reopened to visitors on December 8, 2024, just over five years after the fire.
Boston Marathon bombing
On this day in 2013, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, leaving three spectators dead and injuring over 260 others in Massachusetts. The race, held each year on Patriots’ Day, saw more than 26,000 runners take part that year. It was the 117th edition of the world’s longest-running annual marathon. About five hours after the event began, the first device exploded less than half a block from the finish line on the north side of Boylston Street. Just 12 seconds later, a second blast occurred roughly 600 feet (around 180 metres) away. The three who lost their lives included a 23-year-old woman, a 29-year-old woman, and an eight-year-old boy. Of the many injured, more than a dozen required amputations. Authorities later found that the bombs had been concealed inside household pressure cookers, packed with explosive material, nails, and ball bearings - planned to act as deadly shrapnel. On April 18, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made photos and footage of two individuals suspected in the bombings public. One image showed a suspect placing a package at the site where the second explosion occurred.
This Day, That Year
1989: A tragedy took place at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, when a crush of football fans led to 96 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
2003: US President George W. Bush announced the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq following the Iraq War.
