December 30 in history — What Happened Today in History
December 30 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on December 30 in history, who was born on December 30 and who passed away on December 30, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, December 30 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about December 30 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on December 30 in History 40
- 2020
A large explosion at the airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden kills at least 22 people and wounds 50.
- 2013
More than 100 people are killed when anti-government forces attack key buildings in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 2009
A segment of the Lanzhou–Zhengzhou–Changsha pipeline ruptures in Shaanxi, China, and approximately 150,000 L (40,000 US gal) of diesel oil flows down the Wei River before finally reaching the Yellow River.
- 2009
A suicide bomber kills nine people at Forward Operating Base Chapman, a key facility of the Central Intelligence Agency in Afghanistan.
- 2006
Madrid–Barajas Airport is bombed.
- 2006
The Indonesian passenger ferry MV Senopati Nusantara sinks in a storm, resulting in at least 400 deaths.
- 2006
Former president of Iraq Saddam Hussein is executed.
- 2005
Tropical Storm Zeta forms in the open Atlantic Ocean, tying the record for the latest tropical cyclone ever to form in the North Atlantic basin.
- 2004
A fire in the República Cromagnon nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, kills 194.
- 2000
Rizal Day bombings: A series of bombs explode in various places in Metro Manila, Philippines within a period of a few hours, killing 22 and injuring about a hundred.
- 1997
In the worst incident in Algeria's insurgency, the Wilaya of Relizane massacres, 400 people from four villages are killed.
- 1996
Proposed budget cuts by Benjamin Netanyahu spark protests from 250,000 workers who shut down services across Israel.
All entries for December 30（+28）
- 1993
Israel establishes diplomatic relations with Vatican City and also upgrades to full diplomatic relations with Ireland.
- 1987
Stella Sigcau, Prime minister of the South African Bantustan of Transkei, is ousted from power in a bloodless military coup led by General Bantu Holomisa.
- 1972
Vietnam War: Operation Linebacker II ends.
- 1970
Hurricane Creek mine disaster, near Hyden, Kentucky
- 1967
Aeroflot Flight L-51 crashes near Liepāja International Airport in Liepāja, Latvia, killing 43.
- 1958
The Guatemalan Air Force sinks several Mexican fishing boats alleged to have breached maritime borders, killing three and sparking international tension.
- 1954
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation is established to consolidate criminal investigation and intelligence into a single agency.
- 1952
An RAF Avro Lancaster bomber crashes in Luqa, Malta after an engine failure, killing three crew members and a civilian on the ground.
- 1947
Cold War: King Michael I of Romania is forced to abdicate by the Soviet Union-backed Communist government of Romania.
- 1944
King George II of Greece declares a regency, leaving the throne vacant.
- 1943
Subhas Chandra Bose raises the flag of Indian independence at Port Blair.
- 1936
The Flint sit-down strike hits General Motors.
- 1935
The Italian Air Force bombs a Swedish Red Cross hospital during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.
- 1927
The Ginza Line, the first subway line in Asia, opens in Tokyo, Japan.
- 1922
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is formed.
- 1916
Russian mystic and advisor to the Tsar Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is murdered by a loyalist group led by Prince Felix Yusupov. His frozen, partially-trussed body was discovered in a Petrograd river three days later.
- 1916
The last coronation in Hungary is performed for King Charles IV and Queen Zita.
- 1906
The All-India Muslim League is founded in Dacca, East Bengal, British India (later Dhaka, Bangladesh).
- 1905
Former Idaho governor Frank Steunenberg is assassinated at the front gate of his home in Caldwell.
- 1903
A fire at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, Illinois kills at least 605.
- 1902
The Discovery Expedition under Robert Falcon Scott attains a Farthest South at 82°17′S in Antarctica.
- 1897
The British Colony of Natal annexes Zululand.
- 1896
Filipino patriot and reform advocate José Rizal is executed by a Spanish firing squad in Manila.
- 1896
Canadian ice hockey player Ernie McLea scores the first hat-trick in Stanley Cup play, and the Cup-winning goal as the Montreal Victorias defeat the Winnipeg Victorias 6–5.
- 1890
Following the Wounded Knee Massacre, the United States Army and Lakota warriors face off in the Drexel Mission Fight.
- 1853
Gadsden Purchase: The United States buys land from Mexico to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest.
- 1825
The Treaty of St. Louis between the United States and the Shawnee Nation is proclaimed.
- 1816
The Treaty of St. Louis between the United States and the united Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi Indian tribes is proclaimed.
Famous Birthdays on December 30 in History 25
- 1995
Igor Shesterkin, Russian hockey goaltender
- 1995
Joshua, American singer
- 1995
Ollie Watkins, English footballer
- 1995
V, South Korean singer
- 1992
Ryan Tunnicliffe, English footballer
- 1992
Carson Wentz, American football player
- 1991
Camila Giorgi, Italian tennis player
- 1990
Bruno Henrique, Brazilian footballer
- 1990
Joe Root, English cricketer
- 1990
C. J. Wilcox, American basketball player
- 1989
Tyler Anderson, American baseball player
- 1989
Ryan Sheckler, American skateboarder and entrepreneur
All entries for December 30（+13）
- 1989
Kateřina Vaňková, Czech tennis player
- 1987
Jakub Nakládal, Czech ice hockey player
- 1986
Domenico Criscito, Italian footballer
- 1986
Ellie Goulding, English singer-songwriter and producer
- 1986
Caity Lotz, American actress
- 1986
Jeff Ward, American actor
- 1986
Gianni Zuiverloon, Dutch footballer
- 1985
Lars Boom, Dutch cyclist
- 1985
Bryson Goodwin, Australian rugby league player
- 1985
Anna Wood, American actress
- 1984
Randall Azofeifa, Costa Rican footballer
- 1984
Andra Day, American singer and songwriter
- 1984
LeBron James, American basketball player, producer and businessman
Notable Deaths on December 30 in History 25
- 2025
Khaleda Zia, Bangladeshi politician, Former prime minister of Bangladesh
- 2023
Bryan Ansell, British role-playing and wargame designer (born 1955)
- 2023
Tom Wilkinson, English actor (born 1948)
- 2023
Aki Yashiro, Japanese singer (born 1950)
- 2022
Barbara Walters, American journalist, producer, and author (born 1929)
- 2020
Dawn Wells, American actress, (born 1938)
- 2017
Erica Garner, American civil rights activist (born 1990)
- 2015
Doug Atkins, American football player (born 1930)
- 2015
Howard Davis, Jr., American boxer and trainer (born 1956)
- 2015
Mangesh Padgaonkar, Indian poet, playwright, and translator (born 1929)
- 2015
Howard Pawley, Canadian lawyer and politician, 18th Premier of Manitoba (born 1934)
- 2014
Terry Becker, American actor, director, and producer (born 1921)
All entries for December 30（+13）
- 2014
Jim Galloway, Scottish-Canadian clarinet player and saxophonist (born 1936)
- 2014
Luise Rainer, German-born American-British actress (born 1910)
- 2013
Kinnaird R. McKee, American admiral (born 1929)
- 2013
José María Maguregui, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1934)
- 2013
Eiichi Ohtaki, Japanese singer-songwriter and producer (born 1948)
- 2013
Johnny Orr, American basketball player and coach (born 1927)
- 2013
Paul Sally, American mathematician and academic (born 1933)
- 2012
Philip Coppens, Belgian-American journalist and author (born 1971)
- 2012
Beate Sirota Gordon, Austrian-American director and producer (born 1923)
- 2012
Rita Levi-Montalcini, Italian neurologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1909)
- 2012
Carl Woese, American microbiologist and biophysicist (born 1928)
- 2012
Dennis Ferguson, Australian sex offender (born 1948)
- 2011
Ronald Searle, English-French cartoonist (born 1920)
That is the story of December 30 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on December 30 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on December 30 in history?
The biggest event on December 30 in history is: 2020 — A large explosion at the airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden kills at least 22 people and wounds 50.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on December 30?
25 famous people were born on December 30 in history, the best known being 1995 — Igor Shesterkin, Russian hockey goaltender.
Who died on December 30?
25 notable people died on December 30 in history, including 2025 — Khaleda Zia, Bangladeshi politician, Former prime minister of Bangladesh.
Why should I read about December 30 in history?
Exploring December 30 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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