On This Day, Jan. 13: Costa Concordia capsizes off coast of Italy

On January 13, 2012, the cruise ship Costa Concordia slammed into a rocky shoal near the Italian coast and capsized, killing 32 people. File Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
On January 13, 2012, the cruise ship Costa Concordia slammed into a rocky shoal near the Italian coast and capsized, killing 32 people. File Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Jan. 13 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1910, radio pioneer and electron tube inventor Lee Deforest arranged the world's first public radio broadcast, a performance by the New York Metropolitan Opera.

In 1915, nearly 30,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Avezzano, Italy.

In 1941, Irish novelist James Joyce died at age 58 following surgery for a perforated ulcer in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 1968, Johnny Cash recorded his infamous At Folsom Prison live record.

L. Douglas Wilder (R) beams upon receiving the 75th NAACP Spingarn Medal from former recipient Percy Ellis Sutten (L) of New York on July 12, 1990, in Los Angeles. On Jan. 13, 1990, Wilder took office in Virginia, becoming the first elected African-American governor of a U.S. state. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
L. Douglas Wilder (R) beams upon receiving the 75th NAACP Spingarn Medal from former recipient Percy Ellis Sutten (L) of New York on July 12, 1990, in Los Angeles. On Jan. 13, 1990, Wilder took office in Virginia, becoming the first elected African-American governor of a U.S. state. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI
File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI

In 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River bridge in Washington, killing 78 people.

On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan, regarded by many as the greatest basketball player ever, announced his second retirement. File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI
On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan, regarded by many as the greatest basketball player ever, announced his second retirement. File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI

In 1985, a passenger train traveling through Ethiopia hurled off the tracks, plunging four cars into a ravine. More than 400 people died and 500 sustained injuries.

In 1990, L. Douglas Wilder took office in Virginia, becoming the first elected Black governor of a U.S. state.

Members of the Mexican army take part in search and rescue operations in the hills of Santa Tecla, New El Salvador, where more than 250 houses were destroyed during an earthquake on January 13, 2001. File Photo by Alejandro Ancona/Notimex
Members of the Mexican army take part in search and rescue operations in the hills of Santa Tecla, New El Salvador, where more than 250 houses were destroyed during an earthquake on January 13, 2001. File Photo by Alejandro Ancona/Notimex

In 1991, at least 40 South Africans were killed and 50 injured when fighting erupted during a soccer game in Orkney.

In 1997, U.S. President Bill Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to seven African-American soldiers for their courage in action in Italy during World War II. It was the first time the medal was given to black WWII servicemen.

On January 13, 1915, nearly 30,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Avezzano, Italy. File Photo courtesy E. Navone & Co
On January 13, 1915, nearly 30,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Avezzano, Italy. File Photo courtesy E. Navone & Co

In 1999, Michael Jordan, regarded by many as the greatest basketball player ever, announced his second retirement. He led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships.

In 2001 a magnitude-7.7 early-morning earthquake killed more than 800 people, injured hundreds of others and caused widespread damage and destruction in El Salvador. Deadly mudslides were triggered by the quake.

File Photo by Alejandro Ancona/UPI
File Photo by Alejandro Ancona/UPI

In 2012, the cruise ship Costa Concordia slammed into a rocky shoal near the Italian coast and capsized, killing 32 people.

In 2016, three winning tickets split the largest lottery jackpot in the world -- $1.59 billion. The winning Powerball tickets were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee.

In 2018, an alert sent to cellphones in Hawaii falsely warned of a ballistic missile threat. Gov. David Ige said the mistake was caused by someone pushing "the wrong button."

In 2021, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on charges he incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He was the first president to be impeached twice. The Senate acquitted him both times.

In 2022, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II stripped her son Prince Andrew of his military affiliations and royal patronages amid accusations he sexually abused an underage girl.

In 2023, a friend reported British actor Julian Sands missing after he failed to return from a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department confirmed his death in June 2023 after finding his remains.

File Photo by Gus Ruelas/UPI
File Photo by Gus Ruelas/UPI