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Major Events of May 2008: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 2008 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of May 2008: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 2008 US Navy Missile Strike Kills Al-Shabab Leader in Somalia: A US Navy ship off Somalia's coast launched a missile attack against Aden Hashi Ayro's home in Dusamareb, killing him and at least ten others. Ayro was the military leader of al-Shabab and controlled most of Somalia at the time.
  • 02 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Devastates Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis made catastrophic landfall in Burma (Myanmar), resulting in over 138,000 fatalities and leaving millions of people homeless, marking one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 21st century.
  • 03 May 2008 Devastating Tropical Cyclone Nargis Strikes Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Nargis devastated western Myanmar, causing unprecedented destruction. The cyclone's extreme winds reached 120 mph, generating massive 12-foot tidal waves that killed over 140,000 people. Approximately 2-3 million residents were left homeless, marking this as the deadliest natural disaster in Myanmar's recorded history.
  • 04 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Devastates Myanmar: Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council declared five states of the Irrawaddy river delta a disaster area after Cyclone Nargis claimed at least 351 lives, causing widespread destruction and humanitarian crisis.
  • 05 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Devastates Myanmar: Media reports confirmed that Cyclone Nargis had caused catastrophic loss of life, with over 10,000 people killed in Myanmar, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's recent history.
  • 06 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Death Toll Reported: Myanmar government officially reported 22,000 confirmed deaths and 41,000 people still missing in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, highlighting the catastrophic scale of the disaster.
  • 07 May 2008 Putin Steps Down, Medvedev Becomes Russian President: In Moscow, Russia, Vladimir Putin formally steps down as president. Dmitry Medvedev is sworn in as Russian president, and nominates his predecessor Putin as prime minister, marking a significant transition of power in Russian political leadership.
  • 08 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Devastates Burma: Cyclone Nargis struck Burma (Myanmar), causing massive destruction with at least 63,000 people reported missing or killed. An international relief operation was immediately launched to provide humanitarian assistance.
  • 09 May 2008 Hezbollah Escalates Beirut Conflict: Hezbollah militants seized control of significant areas in Beirut and shut down a pro-government television station, dramatically escalating tensions in Lebanon.
  • 10 May 2008 Unprecedented Fighting in Khartoum During Darfur War: The Justice and Equality Movement engaged in direct conflict with Sudanese Government Forces in Omdurman and Khartoum, marking the first time fighting reached Sudan's capital during the ongoing Darfur conflict.
  • 11 May 2008 Serbian Parliamentary Election: General election in Serbia where the pro-European coalition led by President Boris Tadic wins 39 percent of the vote, while the Radicals secure 29 percent.
  • 12 May 2008 Devastating Wenchuan Earthquake in China: A catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan province in southwestern China, causing massive destruction. The disaster resulted in approximately 90,000 deaths, 300,000 injuries, and left 5 million people homeless, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes of the 21st century.
  • 13 May 2008 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A devastating earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China, causing massive destruction and loss of life. The earthquake resulted in approximately 12,000 deaths, triggering a massive national rescue and recovery operation.
  • 14 May 2008 Devastating Sichuan Earthquake: Xinhua reports the catastrophic 2008 Sichuan earthquake with a death toll nearing 15,000 and approximately 60,000 people missing. The Chinese military dispatches 2,000 soldiers to address hazardous dam cracks near Dujiangyan City.
  • 15 May 2008 Devastating Wenchuan Earthquake: The Wenchuan earthquake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude, struck Sichuan, China, causing massive destruction. Over 87,000 people were killed, 374,643 injured, and between 4.8 million and 11 million people were left homeless.
  • 16 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Death Toll Escalates: The State Peace and Development Council of Burma dramatically revised the Cyclone Nargis death toll, reporting 55,000 missing and 19,359 injured, underscoring the massive humanitarian crisis.
  • 17 May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake Evacuation: China recommends evacuating seriously injured people from Beichuan due to rising water levels following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
  • 18 May 2008 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A devastating earthquake struck Sichuan Province in China, causing massive destruction and loss of life. The earthquake resulted in 32,477 confirmed deaths, with 14,000 people still missing and 205,000 people evacuated. The catastrophic event prompted the Chinese government to declare three days of national mourning.
  • 19 May 2008 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A devastating earthquake struck Sichuan Province in China, causing massive destruction and loss of life. The earthquake triggered numerous rescue efforts and national mourning, including a three-minute national silence to commemorate victims.
  • 20 May 2008 Burma Mourns Cyclone Nargis Victims: Burma begins a three-day national mourning period for victims of Cyclone Nargis and, in a significant humanitarian gesture, allows foreign aid workers to enter the country to provide critical assistance.
  • 21 May 2008 Pakistan-Taliban Peace Agreement: The North West Frontier Province in Pakistan signed a controversial peace agreement with Taliban militants. The agreement stipulated troop withdrawal from Swat Valley and the introduction of Sharia law in exchange for halting suicide bombings and attacks on government buildings.
  • 22 May 2008 2008 Sichuan Earthquake Devastating Aftermath: The catastrophic 2008 Sichuan earthquake continues to reveal its immense human toll, with 51,151 confirmed deaths and 29,328 people still unaccounted for, representing one of the most significant natural disasters in recent Chinese history.
  • 23 May 2008 Union of South American Nations (Unasur) Established: Leaders from 12 South American nations signed a landmark treaty in Brazil, creating the Union of South American Nations (Unasur). This regional body aims to enhance economic and political integration, bringing together Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela in a significant diplomatic milestone.
  • 24 May 2008 China Earthquake Death Toll Estimate: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao estimated that the death toll from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake could potentially reach as high as 80,000 people, highlighting the catastrophic nature of the disaster.
  • 25 May 2008 Devastating Sichuan Earthquake: A catastrophic earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China, causing massive destruction. The Chinese Cabinet reported a staggering death toll of 62,664, with thousands of buildings destroyed and hundreds injured, marking one of the most significant natural disasters of 2008.
  • 26 May 2008 IAEA Report on Iran's Nuclear Program: The International Atomic Energy Agency released a critical report accusing Iran of concealing information about potential nuclear warhead production studies and continuing uranium enrichment despite international concerns.
  • 27 May 2008 Nepal Abolishes Monarchy, Becomes Democratic Republic: Nepal's constituent assembly in Kathmandu votes overwhelmingly (597 to 4) to abolish 240 years of royal rule, transforming the nation into a democratic republic and marking a significant political transition.
  • 28 May 2008 Nepal Becomes a Republic: The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal formally declares Nepal a republic, ending the 240-year reign of the Shah dynasty. This historic moment marks a significant political transformation, transitioning from a monarchy to a federal democratic republic.
  • 29 May 2008 Bear Stearns Acquisition by JPMorgan: Bear Stearns shareholders approve the sale of the 85-year-old investment banking company to JPMorgan Chase & Company at $9.32 per share, a dramatic fall from its peak of $173 in January 2007, reflecting the unfolding financial crisis.
  • 30 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis Aftermath: In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, aid agencies reported significant logistical challenges in delivering relief to Burma (Myanmar). The United Nations noted that approximately 180 relief supply planes remained unloaded in Rangoon. The pro-military newspaper New Light of Myanmar controversially suggested that cyclone victims could survive by eating fish and frogs from the Irrawaddy River Delta. The Burmese government began expelling cyclone victims from relief camps.
  • 31 May 2008 Usain Bolt Sets 100m World Record: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt achieved a groundbreaking world record of 9.72 seconds in the 100-metre sprint at the Reebok Grand Prix, held at Icahn Stadium in New York. This performance was wind-legal with a +1.7 m/s wind speed, marking a significant milestone in track and field history.