Today in History: August 27, Krakatau erupts, causing tsunamis

Today is Tuesday, August 27, the 240th day of 2024. There are 126 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On August 27, 1883, the island volcano Krakatau erupted in a series of catastrophic explosions. The explosions (which were heard 3,000 miles away) and the resulting tsunamis in the Sunda Strait in Indonesia claimed an estimated 36,000 lives on Java and Sumatra.

Also on this date:

In 1894, Congress passed the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act, which included a progressive income tax provision. This provision was later struck down by the Supreme Court.

In 1964, the film “Mary Poppins” had its world premiere in Los Angeles, California.

In 1979, British war hero Lord Louis Mountbatten and three other people, including his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas, were killed in a boat explosion off the coast of Ireland, claimed by the Irish Republican Army.

In 1982, Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s stole his 119th base of the season, breaking Lou Brock’s record for most stolen bases in a season. (Henderson would finish the season with a still-unmatched record of 130 stolen bases.)

In 1990, blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughn and four others were killed in a helicopter crash near East Troy, Wisconsin.

In 2001, Israeli helicopters fired two missiles through office windows, killing PLO leader Mustafa Zibri.

In 2005, coastal residents blocked highways and gas stations as they sought to avoid Hurricane Katrina, which was headed toward New Orleans.

In 2008, Barack Obama was nominated for president at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, becoming the first black presidential candidate of a major political party.

In 2011, Hurricane Irene made landfall in the United States. The storm is said to be responsible for 49 deaths and more than $14 billion in damage.

Today’s birthday:

• Author William Least Heat-Moon is 85.
• Actor Tuesday Weld is 81.
• Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Nebraska) is 81 years old.
• Actor GW Bailey is 80.
• Rock musician Alex Lifeson (Rush) is 71.
• Actor Peter Stormare is 71.
• Rock musician Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols) is 68.
• Golfer Bernhard Langer is 67 years old.
• Gospel singer Yolanda Adams is 63.
• Fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford is 63.
• US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines is 55.
• Actor Chandra Wilson is 55.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome is 54 years old.
• Rapper Mase is 49.
• Actor Sarah Chalke is 48.
• Actor Aaron Paul is 45.
• Actor Patrick J. Adams (TV: “Suits”) is 43.
• Singer Mario is 38.
• Actor Alexa PenaVega is 36.
• Singer-songwriter Kim Petras is 32.
• 30-year-old American Olympian and WNBA basketball player Breanna Stewart.
• Rapper/singer-songwriter Rod Wave is 26.