1945⚡ Event
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima
The United States drops the atomic bomb 'Little Boy' on Hiroshima, Japan, killing an estimated 80,000 people instantly.
warsciencemilitary
This Week in History: Week 32
August 5 – August 11
Over 108 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.
Explore the Full Daily Timelines
Major Events (August 5 – August 11)(20)
1955⚡ Event
Hurricane Diane Forms
Hurricane Diane, the first Atlantic hurricane to cause more than $1 billion in damages, formed between the Lesser Antilles and Cape Verde.
disaster
1970⚡ Event
Marin County Courthouse Hostage Incident
Jonathan Jackson took hostages in a courthouse in Marin County, California, to coerce the release of the Soledad Brothers. The incident resulted in the deaths of judge Harold Haley and three others.
1985⚡ Event
Bamber Family Murders
Five members of the Bamber family were found murdered at a farmhouse in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, England. This event is known as the White House Farm murders.
1987⚡ Event
Lynne Cox swims the Bering Strait
Lynne Cox became the first person to swim between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, crossing the Bering Strait in 2 hours and 5 minutes.
explorationsports
1991⚡ Event
World Wide Web goes public
Tim Berners-Lee publishes the first website, making the World Wide Web available to the general public.
technology
1993⚡ Event
Magic: The Gathering released
Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first trading card game. It has since become one of the most popular and influential games in the world.
entertainmentarts
1997⚡ Event
Korean Air Flight 801 crash
Korean Air Flight 801 crashed into a hill on approach to Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam, killing 228 of the 254 people aboard on August 6, 1997.
disastertechnology
1998⚡ Event
1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Africa
Car bombs exploded simultaneously at the American embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, killing over 200 people and injuring more than 4,000.
warpolitics
1998⚡ Event
Taliban raid Iranian consulate
The Taliban raided the Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. This resulted in the deaths of 10 Iranian diplomats and a journalist.
politicswar
2008⚡ Event
Mauritanian coup d'état
Mauritanian president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was ousted from power by a group of high-ranking generals on August 6, 2008.
politicslaw
2008⚡ Event
Train derailment near Studénka
A EuroCity train traveling to Prague derailed after striking a fallen bridge section near Studénka station. The accident claimed 8 lives and injured 64.
disaster
2009⚡ Event
Mid-air collision over Hudson River
A tour helicopter and a small airplane collided over the Hudson River near Hoboken, New Jersey. Nine people were killed in the accident.
disaster
2010⚡ Event
2010 Ladakh floods
Flash floods, mudslides, and debris flows across the Ladakh region of Indian-administered Kashmir left at least 255 people dead on August 6, 2010.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
NASA launches Juno probe
NASA launched the Juno probe to Jupiter as part of the New Frontiers program. The spacecraft is designed to study Jupiter's composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere.
sciencespace
2011⚡ Event
2011 England riots
A series of riots broke out in several London boroughs and in cities and towns across England in response to the shooting of Mark Duggan by Metropolitan Police officers on August 6, 2011.
lawpolitics
2012⚡ Event
Radio Network House demolition
Radio Network House in Christchurch, damaged by an earthquake, was demolished by implosion. This was the first such demolition in New Zealand.
disastertechnology
2012⚡ Event
Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting
An American white supremacist carried out a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six people and wounding four others.
lawreligion
2013⚡ Event
Rosario gas explosion
A gas leak caused an explosion that collapsed a building and led to the deaths of 22 people in Rosario, Argentina on August 6, 2013.
disaster
2015⚡ Event
Gold King Mine spill
The US EPA accidentally caused a spill of 3 million gallons of mine waste water near Silverton, Colorado.
disaster
Famous Birthdays This Week(15)
1809🎂 Birth
Alfred, Lord Tennyson born
English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson is born. He became Poet Laureate and is known for works like 'The Charge of the Light Brigade.'
literature
1999🎂 Birth
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is an American hurdler and sprinter.
sports
2000🎂 Birth
Tom Gilbert
Tom Gilbert is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He was born on August 5, 2000.
sports
2001🎂 Birth
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on August 5, 2001.
sports
2002🎂 Birth
Nessa Barrett
Nessa Barrett, American singer-songwriter, was born on August 6, 2002.
musicentertainment
2003🎂 Birth
Toni Shaw
Toni Shaw is a British Paralympic swimmer. She was born on August 5, 2003.
sports
2004🎂 Birth
Gavi
Gavi is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. He was born on August 5, 2004.
sports
2004🎂 Birth
Takhmina Ikromova
Takhmina Ikromova, Uzbekistani rhythmic gymnast, was born on August 6, 2004.
sports
Notable Deaths This Week(15)
1945🕊️ Death
Thousands die in Hiroshima
An estimated 80,000 people die instantly from the atomic bombing, with tens of thousands more dying from radiation in the following months.
warmilitary
2018🕊️ Death
Joël Robuchon
Joël Robuchon was a French chef and restaurateur who was widely regarded as one of the finest chefs in the world.
entertainment
2020🕊️ Death
Vern Rumsey
Vern Rumsey was an American bass guitarist, best known as a member of the band Unwound.
musicentertainment
2021🕊️ Death
Markie Post
Markie Post, a beloved American actress known for her roles in television sitcoms, has died.
entertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Judith Durham
Judith Durham was an Australian singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the folk-music group The Seekers. She was born in 1943 and died on August 5, 2022.
musicentertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Cherie Gil
Filipino actress Cherie Gil died on August 5, 2022. She was born in 1963.
entertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Ali Haydar
Syrian army officer Ali Haydar died on August 5, 2022. He was born in 1932.
war
2022🕊️ Death
Issey Miyake
Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake died on August 5, 2022. He was born in 1938.
artsentertainment
2022🕊️ Death
David McCullough
David McCullough, a celebrated American historian and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, has passed away.
literature
2023🕊️ Death
William Friedkin
William Friedkin, the acclaimed American film director known for 'The Exorcist' and 'The French Connection,' has died.
entertainment
2024🕊️ Death
Billy Bean
Billy Bean was an American professional baseball player and executive.
sportspolitics
2024🕊️ Death
James Bjorken
James Bjorken was an American theoretical physicist known for his work on deep inelastic scattering.
science
2025🕊️ Death
Col Joye
Col Joye was an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was born in 1937 and died on August 5, 2025.
musicentertainment
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