| Date |
Type of accident or disaster |
Details |
| December 1982 |
Ferry sinking |
European Gateway, 6 lives lost |
| May 1984 |
Explosion |
At Abbey stead, Lancashire, in water treatement works receiving visitors. 17 died and others injured |
| May 1985 |
Fire |
Major fire at Bradford City football ground, Yorkshire, in which 56 people died and many were injured |
| August 1985 |
Aircraft fire |
Aircraft caught fire during take-off at Manchester airport. 55 died |
| September 1985 |
Riots |
In Handsworth, Birmingham, 72 died and 137 injured, property damage |
| September 1985 |
Riots |
In Brixton, London. Over 200 arrests and property damage |
| October 1985 |
Riots |
In Brixton, London. Over 50 casualties |
| October 1985 |
Riots |
In Broadwater Farm, Tottenham. Over 250 injured, 1 death, property damage |
| April 1986 |
Radiation |
Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident, Ukraine, USSR |
| March 1987 |
Ferry sinking |
The Herald of Free Enterprise ferry capsized shortly after leaving Zeebrugge harbour in Belgium. The ferry carried many British and was bound for Britain. 193 died and many were injured |
| August 1987 |
Shooting |
Lone gunman shot dead 16 people wounded 16 others at Hungerford |
| October 1987 |
Storm |
Hurricane-force winds sweep Britain following failure of Meteorological Office to forecast the storm accurately. Over 20 people killed and huge insurance payout for damage |
| November 1987 |
Fire |
In King's Cross underground station, London. 30 people died, over 50 others were injured |
| November 1987 |
Terrorist bombing |
In Enniskillin, Northern Ireland. 11 died and over 50 injured |
| July 1988 |
Oil rig explosion |
Oil rig Piper Alpha explodes in North Sea killing 167 people |
| July 1988 |
Water supply |
At the Lowermoore water treatment plant near Camelford. Aluminium sulphate tipped into wrong tank. 20,000 people affected with a range of short- and possibly long-term health effects |
| August 1988 |
Terrorist bombing |
In Omagh in Northern Ireland. 8 died and 21 injured |
| December 1988 |
Rail crash |
Three trains collided near Clapham railway station in London. 34 people died and many were injured |
| December 1988 |
Terrorist bombing of aircraft |
Panam jet exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 passengers and crew and 11 people on the ground |
| January 1989 |
Air crash |
Aircraft crashes onto M1 motorway near Kegworth in Leicestershire. 39 people die at the scene and 70 were seriously injured one died later |
| April 1989 |
Crowd crush |
At Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, Yorkshire. 95 people died and 400 received hospital treatment |
| August 1989 |
Pleasure boat |
The pleasure boat the Marchioness sank in the river Thames in London after colliding with another vessel. 56 people died |
| August 1989 |
Oil pollution |
Shell oil pipeline on Merseyside leaks causing major uncontrolled leakage of 156 tonnes of crude oil into Mersey estuary |
| February 1990 |
Storm |
Hurricane-force winds sweep Britain, on this occasion accurately forecast by the Meteorological Office. Over 40 people killed and massive damage |
January/
February 1990 |
Flood |
In Thames valley, especially Maidenhead. Over 200 properties seriously flooded for over one week. Large property damage |
| February 1990 |
Flood |
Sea wall at Towyn, North Wales, is breached by high tide and storm surge. Warning issued late. 6,500 people evacuated and large amount of property damage. Many evacuees still not returned to their homes many months after the event |
| April 1990 |
Riots |
Hundreds riot in central London over the community charge (poll tax). Many injured |
