Historical eventNovember 211996

Humberto Vidal explosion

Humberto Vidal explosion: Thirty-three people die when a Humberto Vidal shoe shop in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico explodes.

30th anniversary in 2026

Everything on November 21Original source

In context

When
Thursday, November 21 199630 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1990s
Anniversary
30th in 2026
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1996.

What happened

The Humberto Vidal explosion was a gas explosion that occurred on November 21, 1996 at the Humberto Vidal shoe store in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. The explosion killed 33 and wounded 69 others. It is the deadliest disaster to occur in Puerto Rico.

November 21 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1996Humberto Vidal explosion
  2. 2013Euromaidan
  3. 2013Zolitūde shopping centre roof collapse
  4. 2014Kwekwe stadium stampede
  5. 2015Federal Government of Belgium
  6. 20152015 Brussels lockdown
  7. 2017Robert Mugabe
  8. 2019Tesla, Inc.
  9. 2019Benjamin Netanyahu
  10. 2021Waukesha Christmas parade attack
  11. 20222022 West Java earthquake

Also in 1996

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  • September 16Space Shuttle AtlantisSpace Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-79 to dock with the Russian space station Mir.
  • September 5Hurricane FranHurricane Fran makes landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina as a Category 3 storm with 115 mph sustained winds. Fran caused over $3 bill…
  • June 14ForeclosureAfter an 81-day standoff sparked by their refusal to be evicted from their foreclosed property in Jordan, Montana, the Christian Patriot…
  • August 14Killing of Solomos SolomouGreek Cypriot refugee Solomos Solomou is shot and killed by a Turkish security officer while trying to climb a flagpole in order to remov…
  • July 5Dolly (sheep)Dolly the sheep becomes the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
  • November 5President of PakistanPakistani President Farooq Leghari dismisses the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and dissolves the National Assembly.
  • November 5Bill ClintonBill Clinton is reelected President of the United States.

Everything we record for 1996 →

Sources

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“Humberto Vidal explosion”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/humberto-vidal-explosion-1996-november-21, accessed October 25, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Humberto Vidal explosion happen?

November 21 1996 — 30 years ago, on a Thursday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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