20 Interesting Facts About February 4 in History
From landmark independence movements and devastating natural disasters to pivotal moments in aviation, politics, and global health, these events on February 4 throughout history reflect the ever-changing landscape of history, where both triumphs and tragedies have shaped the course of nations and the lives of millions.
- Alyana Aguja
- 10 min read
On February 4, history has always seen moments of transformation that reshape geopolitics, society, and human progress. From bold strides toward independence and social change to tragic events testing human resilience, these events have echoed the complexity of our shared history. Whether through wars of liberation, technological milestones, or public mobilizations, each of these moments has left its mark, reminding us of our capacity for destruction and hope.
1. 1948: Ceylon later known as Sri Lanka becomes an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth
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Ceylon officially became independent of British colonialism in 1948 and renamed Sri Lanka after being under British control for over 130 years. The dominion status under the British Commonwealth allowed the country to have control over its self-governance, but the government was still dependent on Britain in foreign affairs. This was a turning point in the decolonization movement in Asia and paved the way for Sri Lanka to become a fully independent republic in 1972.
2. 1961: The Angolan War of Independence and the greater Portuguese Colonial War starts
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The Angolan War of Independence started in 1961, marking a brutal fight between nationalist movements and Portugal’s colonial forces. The war was part of the larger Portuguese Colonial War, in which Portugal fought to control its overseas territories, including Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. Years of armed conflict finally led to Angola’s independence in 1975, which left a legacy of political instability and the beginning of a civil war that would last for several more decades.
3. 1966: Nippon Airways Flight 60 sinks into Tokyo Bay, killing all 133 passengers
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In 1966, an All Nippon Airways flight 60 took off from the Haneda airport and crashed within a few seconds into Tokyo Bay. The disaster was caused by a mechanical failure in the airplane’s engine. All 133 people on board were killed; it is counted as one of the deadliest airplane accidents in the history of Japan. This incident compelled massive overhauls in airline safety regulation and paved the way for a global discussion about the relevance of technology and safety standards in aviation.
4. 1967: Lunar Orbiter Program
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In 1967, Lunar Orbiter 3 took off from Launch Complex 13 in Cape Canaveral to identify potential landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo spacecraft. The 1967 launch of Lunar Orbiter 3 was a pivotal moment in the space race, as NASA sought to identify suitable landing sites for its future lunar missions. The spacecraft orbited the Moon, capturing high-resolution images critical for selecting safe locations for the Surveyor robotic landers and the Apollo crewed missions. These laid the foundation for the eventual landing of Apollo 11 in 1969 when humans first stepped on the Moon.
5. 1974: Symbionese Liberation Army kidnaps Patty Hearst in Berkeley, California
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In 1974, Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) in Berkeley, California. Over the next few months, she became a key figure in the SLA’s crimes, beginning with bank robberies, as she had been brainwashed or coerced into committing such crimes. The final capture of Hearst left many questions unanswered about coercion, psychological manipulation, and the sheer power of media in shaping the views of society.
6. 1974: M62 Coach Bombing
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The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonates a bomb on a bus carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel in Yorkshire, England. Nine soldiers and three civilians are killed. The 1974 M62 coach bombing was a devastating act of terrorism carried out by the Provisional IRA in northern England. The bomb exploded as off-duty British soldiers boarded a coach and killed nine soldiers and three civilians. However, the attack highlighted the violent nature of the Troubles, the period spanning Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom’s worst conflict. During this time, nationalists and unionists fought over Northern Ireland’s constitutional status.
7. 1975: Haicheng earthquake (magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale) in Haicheng, Liaoning, China
SKopp from Wikipedia
On February 4, 1975, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit Haicheng, China, causing severe damage and loss of life. Unlike most destructive quakes, the Haicheng earthquake was forecasted ahead of time, which led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and saved many lives. It marked a significant event in seismology, providing evidence of earthquake forecasting and preparedness to prevent the effects of such natural disasters.
8. 1976: In Guatemala and Honduras an earthquake kills more than 22,000
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A devastating earthquake struck Guatemala and Honduras in February 1976, with its epicenter near the Guatemalan town of Los Amates. The massive 7.5 quakes destroyed everything, leaving cities completely leveled and killing more than 22,000 people across the two countries. The disaster led to a significant humanitarian response and international attention to the region’s vulnerability in seismic activities and disaster relief in developing nations.
9. 1977: A Chicago Transit Authority elevated train rear-ends another and derails, killing 11 and injuring 180, the worst accident in the agency’s history
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In 1977, a tragic accident occurred when one Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) elevated train rear-ended another, causing a deadly derailment. The crash killed 11 passengers and injured over 180, making it the most lethal in the CTA’s history. The accident led to a complete revision of safety policies on public transport systems in Chicago and raised increased awareness about the dangers of train overloading and its safety measures.
10. 1992: A coup d’état was staged by Hugo Chávez against Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez
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In 1992, Hugo Chávez staged a failed coup d’état against then-Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Although the coup failed and Chávez was briefly imprisoned, it started his rise to political prominence. Chávez’s actions reflected growing dissatisfaction with the political elite and Venezuela’s economic crisis, ultimately leading to his successful presidential campaign in 1998 and his controversial tenure as president.
11. 1997: An Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee in Israel killing 73
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In February 1997, Israeli military helicopters collided in mid-air in the northern region of Israel while going to a mission in southern Lebanon, killing 73 Israeli soldiers. This is one of the deadliest incidents in the history of the Israeli military. It prompted a comprehensive investigation into military aviation safety and led to a series of reforms to prevent similar accidents in the future.
12. 1997: The Bojnurd earthquake measuring Mw 6.5 strikes Iran
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With a Mercalli intensity of VIII, it kills at least 88 and damages 173 villages. The Bojnurd earthquake struck northern Iran in 1997, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale and causing widespread devastation. This had a Mercalli intensity of VIII, killing at least 88 people and injuring hundreds more. The quake was very destructive, affecting 173 villages, making most of them lose homes and other essential facilities.
13. 1998: The 5.9 Mw Afghanistan earthquake shook the Takhar Province with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong)
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Damage is considered extreme, with 2,323 killed and 818 injured. In March 1998, a powerful 5.9-magnitude earthquake devastated parts of Afghanistan’s Takhar Province. Its Mercalli intensity is VII; therefore, the seismic event falls within the rank of the worst disasters in that area. More than 2,300 died; over 1,000 were injured. This region’s mountainous terrain and lack of modern infrastructure make it highly susceptible to any natural disaster.
14. 1999: Unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is shot 41 times by four plainclothes New York City police officers on an unrelated stake-out, inflaming race relations in the city
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In 1999, a case was experienced involving Amadou Diallo, who was shot 41 times by four police officers from New York City; these officers assumed he was withdrawing his gun at the stakeout. This resulted in much violence, causing nationwide protests and controversies surrounding racial profiling, police brutality, and issues of minorities being mistreated within the United States. It marked a crucial moment in the country’s struggle for racial justice and police reform.
15. 2000: The World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium, Charter of Paris is signed by the President of France, Jacques Chirac and the Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, initiating World Cancer Day which is held on February 4 annually
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The World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium, organized by the World Health Organization and UNESCO in Paris in January 2000, resulted in the agreement to the Charter of Paris signed by leaders of the world community with French President Jacques Chirac and UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura. The Charter was an international worldwide commitment to combat cancer through increased awareness, research, and prevention. Therefore, World Cancer Day was born on February 4 every year, reminding people of the continuous struggle with cancer and the requirement for further investment in medical research.
16. 2003: The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia adopts a new constitution becoming a loose confederation between Montenegro and Serbia
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In 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia transformed into a nation, adopting a new constitution to officially establish a loose confederation between Serbia and Montenegro. The new agreement, called the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, symbolized a transition from the old Yugoslav federation, which had collapsed in the Balkan Wars of the 1990s. This union lasted until 2006, when Montenegro voted for independence, marking the final collapse of the ex-Yugoslavia.
17. 2004: Facebook, a mainstream online social networking site, is created by Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin
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Facebook, launched in 2004 by Harvard students Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, soon became one of the most influential and widely followed social networking sites across the globe. Initially open to students of colleges and universities only, Facebook grew extremely fast and today is a prominent player in global digital communication, having more than 2 billion users who were able to change the way people interact with each other online.
18. 2008: Social mobilizations of citizens in Colombia against FARC, under the name A Million Voices against the FARC
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In 2008, millions of Colombians took to the streets in a nationwide mobilization against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group responsible for decades of violence, kidnappings, and drug trafficking. The protests, known as “A Million Voices Against the FARC,” were a powerful statement of the Colombian people’s desire for peace and an end to the group’s violent activities. The movement sparked global attention regarding Colombia’s fight against insurgency and global peace demands.
19. 2015: TransAsia Airways Flight 235 carrying 58 passengers from Taiwanese capital Taipei en-route to Kinmen crashes into Keelung River shortly after takeoff; 43 are killed
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TransAsia Airways Flight 235 crashed into the Keelung River just three minutes after taking off from Taipei, Taiwan, in 2015, killing 43 people. The incident occurred due to the failure of an engine and poor handling by the pilots. Massive media attention following this incident criticized Taiwan’s aviation industry safety standards; thus, improvements were initiated to pilot training and aircraft maintenance protocols.
20. 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic forces all casinos in Macau to be shut down for 15 days
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To curb the spread of the virus, all casinos in Macau were closed for 15 days in February 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading worldwide. The region is the world’s largest gambling hub. The closure was a massive blow to the city’s economy, heavily reliant on tourism and gaming. This unprecedented move highlighted the global scale of the pandemic and the severe economic impacts industries worldwide face.
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