Events on May 27 in history

Centralia mine fire (May 27, 1962)

The Centralia mine fire is ignited in the town's landfill above a coal mine.

The Centralia mine fire is a coal-seam fire that has been burning underneath the borough of Centralia, Pennsylvania, United States, since at least May 27, 1962. Its original cause is still a matter of debate. It is burning in underground coal mines at depths of up to 300 feet (90 m) over an 8-mile (13 km) stretch of 3,700 acres (15 km2). At its current rate, it could continue to burn for over 250 years. It has caused most of the town to be abandoned: by 2017 the population had dwindled to a mere five residents from around 1,500 at the time the fire started, and most of the buildings have been razed.

References

Centralia mine fire

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Events on 1962

5 Feb

Charles de Gaulle
French President Charles de Gaulle calls for Algeria to be granted independence.
5 Aug

Nelson Mandela
Apartheid in South Africa: Nelson Mandela is jailed. He would not be released until 1990.
15 Sep

Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviet ship Poltava heads toward Cuba, one of the events that sets into motion the Cuban Missile Crisis.
18 Sep

Jamaica
Burundi, Jamaica, Rwanda and Trinidad and Tobago are admitted to the United Nations.
6 Nov

Apartheid
The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation.

Events on May 27 in history

Centralia mine fire (May 27, 1962)

References

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Events on 1962

Charles de Gaulle

Nelson Mandela

Cuban Missile Crisis

Jamaica

Apartheid