April 2002 Disasters

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

• April 15, nr. Pusan, South Korea: Air China Boeing 767 en route from Beijing crashed into a forested hillside 5 mi from the airport in Pusan, killing at least 115 people. Miraculously, 39 passengers survived. Heavy winds, rain, and fog were probably a factor in the crash.
• April 28, east-central U.S.: Outbreak of tornadoes caused pockets of devastation from Maryland to Missouri. In southern Maryland a powerful F-5 tornado, with winds ranging over 261 mph, killed 3 people and nearly leveled the town of La Plata. In Missouri, Kentucky, and Illinois, one person was killed in each state.

See also Major Earthquakes Around the World 2002

See also Recent Volcanic Activity