A comprehensive record of deaths, accidents, and unexpected events from 2018
January 2018
January 2, 2018
Thomas Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at age 90 in Salt Lake City.
January 15, 2018
Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer of The Cranberries, found dead in London hotel room at age 46. Drowning in bathtub due to alcohol intoxication.
January 18, 2018
False ballistic missile alert sent to all mobile phones in Hawaii. Population in panic for 38 minutes before correction issued.
January 23, 2018
Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics doctor, sentenced to 40-175 years in prison after more than 150 women testified about sexual abuse.
February 2018
February 14, 2018
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen dead. Survivors launch March for Our Lives movement.
February 15, 2018
Seventeen people killed as pedestrian bridge collapses at Florida International University in Miami just days after installation.
February 18, 2018
Billy Graham, influential Christian evangelist, died at age 99 at his home in North Carolina. Counseled multiple U.S. presidents.
February 25, 2018
Winter Olympics in PyeongChang concluded. North and South Korean athletes marched together under unified flag for first time since 2007.
March 2018
March 4, 2018
Sergei Skripal, former Russian spy, and his daughter poisoned with Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England. International incident ensues.
March 11, 2018
Military helicopter crashes in Iraq near Syrian border. Seven U.S. service members killed in deadliest incident for U.S. forces in Iraq since 2011.
March 14, 2018
Stephen Hawking died at his home in Cambridge at age 76. Theoretical physicist defied ALS diagnosis for over 50 years.
March 18, 2018
Self-driving Uber vehicle struck and killed pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. First known death involving autonomous vehicle and pedestrian.
March 24, 2018
March for Our Lives demonstrations in Washington D.C. and worldwide. Over 800,000 attend main march demanding gun control legislation.
April 2018
April 3, 2018
YouTube headquarters shooting in San Bruno, California. Female shooter wounded three before taking her own life.
April 9, 2018
Barbara Bush, former First Lady and wife of George H.W. Bush, died at age 92. Matriarch of political dynasty.
April 17, 2018
Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 engine explodes mid-flight. One passenger killed after being partially sucked out of window at 32,000 feet.
April 21, 2018
Avicii, Swedish DJ and producer, found dead in Oman at age 28. Family later revealed he took his own life.
April 27, 2018
Historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. First crossing of border by North Korean leader since 1953.
May 2018
May 3, 2018
Kilauea volcano erupts in Hawaii. Lava destroys over 700 homes. Thousands evacuated from Big Island communities.
May 18, 2018
Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas. Ten people killed by student with shotgun and revolver. Another school, another tragedy.
May 19, 2018
Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Watched by millions worldwide. First biracial American to marry into modern British royal family.
May 25, 2018
Harvey Weinstein charged with rape and criminal sex acts. The case that sparked the MeToo movement enters the legal system.
June 2018
June 5, 2018
Kate Spade, fashion designer, found dead in her New York apartment at age 55. Death ruled suicide by hanging.
June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain discovered dead in French hotel room at age 61. Suicide by hanging. The world loses a storyteller.
June 12, 2018
Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore. First meeting between sitting U.S. president and North Korean leader.
June 23, 2018
Thai cave rescue begins. Twelve boys and soccer coach trapped in Tham Luang cave by flooding. International rescue effort mobilized.
June 28, 2018
Five staff members killed in shooting at Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. Gunman had longstanding grudge against paper.
July 2018
July 6, 2018
Saman Gunan, Thai Navy SEAL diver, dies while delivering oxygen tanks to trapped soccer team in cave. Hero gives life in rescue attempt.
July 10, 2018
Final member of Thai soccer team rescued from cave after 17 days underground. All thirteen survivors emerge safely against odds.
July 15, 2018
France defeats Croatia 4-2 to win FIFA World Cup in Russia. Second World Cup title for France. Kylian Mbappe emerges as young star.
July 19, 2018
Duck boat sinks on Table Rock Lake in Missouri during storm. Seventeen people drowned including nine members of same family.
July 23, 2018
Wildfires rage through Athens, Greece. At least 99 people killed in deadliest wildfire in Greek history. Entire communities destroyed.
August 2018
August 3, 2018
Genoa bridge collapse in Italy. Morandi Bridge falls during storm killing 43 people. Major infrastructure failure shocks nation.
August 10, 2018
Horizon Air ground service agent steals empty passenger plane from Seattle-Tacoma airport. Crashes on island after performing aerial stunts. No other casualties.
August 16, 2018
Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, died at her Detroit home at age 76 from pancreatic cancer. Voice of a generation silenced.
August 25, 2018
John McCain, war hero and U.S. Senator, died at age 81 from brain cancer. Political maverick and former presidential candidate.
September 2018
September 7, 2018
Mac Miller found dead at his California home at age 26. Accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol. Music world mourns.
September 13, 2018
Gas explosions in Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts. One person killed, over 25 injured. Approximately 8,000 structures affected across three towns.
September 28, 2018
Magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami strike Sulawesi, Indonesia. Over 4,300 people killed. City of Palu devastated by liquefaction.
October 2018
October 2, 2018
Jamal Khashoggi enters Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Washington Post journalist never emerges alive. Murder sparks international crisis.
October 6, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to Supreme Court after contentious hearings involving sexual assault allegations. Nation deeply divided.
October 10, 2018
Hurricane Michael makes landfall in Florida Panhandle as Category 5 storm. Most powerful hurricane to hit continental U.S. since 1992. At least 74 deaths.
October 27, 2018
Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. Eleven people killed in deadliest attack on Jewish community in U.S. history.
October 29, 2018
Lion Air Flight 610 crashes into Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. All 189 people aboard killed. Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
November 2018
November 7, 2018
Borderline Bar shooting in Thousand Oaks, California. Gunman kills twelve people including sheriff's deputy before taking own life.
November 8, 2018
Camp Fire ignites in Northern California. Paradise completely destroyed. Most destructive wildfire in California history begins its devastation.
November 25, 2018
Camp Fire finally contained after 17 days. Eighty-five people confirmed dead. Over 18,000 structures destroyed. Town of Paradise erased.
December 2018
December 1, 2018
George H.W. Bush, 41st U.S. President, died at age 94 in Houston. Last president of Greatest Generation. End of political era.
December 22, 2018
Anak Krakatau volcano erupts and partially collapses triggering tsunami in Indonesia. Over 400 killed along Sunda Strait coastlines. No warning system.
December 22, 2018
U.S. federal government shutdown begins. Would become longest shutdown in American history lasting 35 days into 2019.
2018 GLOBAL INCIDENT LOCATIONS
MAP CONTROLS & INFORMATION
DARK RED (>50 deaths) | RED (10-50 deaths) | LIGHT RED (<10 deaths)
Click markers for detailed incident information
Drag to pan | Scroll to zoom | Use controls for satellite/terrain view
⚠ Total incidents mapped: 48 events | Total deaths: 6,000+
Deadliest: Palu Tsunami (4,340) | Camp Fire (85) | Hurricane Michael (74)
Markers drop in sequence - watch them appear chronologically