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2010

Disaster21st CenturyEurope

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Erupts, Grounding European Flights

Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano had been relatively quiet for nearly two centuries before renewed seismic activity began in early 2010. A flank fissure eruption occurred in March, but on April 14 the summit caldera erupted explosively beneath its ice cap, sending a plume of fine volcanic ash more than eight kilometers high. Westerly winds carried the glass-rich ash southeast across northern Europe, where it posed severe risks to jet engines. Aviation authorities closed airspace in over twenty countries for several days, canceling more than 100,000 flights and stranding millions of passengers. The disruption represented the largest shutdown of European air travel since World War II.

Event DetailDisaster Kit Pro
2013

Other21st CenturyEurope

Cardinal Bergoglio Elected Pope Francis

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation on February 28, 2013, marked the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years and triggered a conclave to select his successor amid calls for renewal in the Catholic Church. Cardinals from around the world gathered in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City for voting that began on March 12. On March 13, after five ballots, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and a Jesuit, received the required two-thirds majority. He chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, becoming the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pope in over a millennium. Bergoglio appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica that evening...

Event Detail
2015

Civil Rights21st CenturyEurope

Ireland Approves Same-Sex Marriage by Popular Referendum

Ireland had undergone significant social liberalization in the decades leading to 2015, with growing public support for LGBTQ+ rights following earlier reforms like the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1993. A constitutional convention recommended allowing same-sex marriage, prompting the government to hold a referendum on amending the constitution. On May 22, 2015, voters approved the Thirty-fourth Amendment by 62% to 38% on a 61% turnout, making Ireland the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote. The result reflected broad cross-party and grassroots campaigning by groups like Yes Equality. The amendment took effect later that year, enabling the first same-sex marriages in November.

Event Detail
2015

Other21st CenturyEurope

Coordinated ISIS Attacks Strike Paris, Killing 130

In the wake of earlier ISIS activities in Europe and the Middle East, a cell of operatives planned simultaneous strikes in the French capital. On the evening of November 13, 2015, suicide bombings occurred near the Stade de France during a soccer match attended by President François Hollande. Gunmen then attacked cafes, restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall, taking hostages in a prolonged siege. French security forces responded with raids that ended the Bataclan standoff. The attacks killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more, marking the deadliest terrorist incident in France since World War II.

Event Detail
2019

Disaster21st CenturyEurope

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral Severely Damaged by Fire

During ongoing restoration work on the iconic 12th-century Gothic cathedral in central Paris, a fire broke out in the attic on the evening of April 15. The blaze rapidly spread through the wooden roof structure, causing the 19th-century spire designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to collapse and destroying most of the lead-covered roof. Firefighters battled the flames for hours, preventing total destruction of the stone vaulting and the two main towers while rescuing precious artifacts including the Crown of Thorns. The cause was later attributed to an electrical short circuit or construction accident. French President Emmanuel Macron immediately pledged a major rebuilding effort, drawing worldwide donations and support.

Event DetailDisaster Kit Pro