During the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, there was a tragic accident involving Pierre Levegh driving a Mercedes; in addition to the driver, 83 spectators were killed. ¹⁾

SS Baychimo was used to collect furs from the Inuit, to whom he provided food and other supplies in return. In 1931, it became trapped by ice near Alaska. The crew abandoned the ship and decided to wait until the weather cleared. However, during the night, the ship disappeared. The crew returned home, thinking the ship had sunk. Surprisingly, the ship did not sink and continued to drift for the next 38 years where it was often seen in Alaskan waters. ²⁾

According to period records, only six people died in the Great Fire of London in 1666. However, this number is now disputed as the deaths of poor people were probably not recorded. ³⁾

HMS Birkenhead, a British ship, became famous for the attitude of the crew and passengers who, in 1852, when the ship was sinking after entering the rocks, exercised discipline and allowed children and women to evacuate first. There were 193 rescues, including all women and children. 438 men died, mostly British soldiers who were to take part in the Xhosa War. The shipwreck was the most important inspiration for establishing the tradition of having to evacuate children and women first from a sinking ship. ⁴⁾

New Zealand was the site of the famous Boyd sailing ship massacre of 1809, in which 70 crew members were eaten. ⁵⁾