On this day

February 29, 1960

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from February 29, 1960

Notable Births

Khaled (musician)

1960Khaled, Algerian singer-songwriter[†]

Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, better known by his mononym Khaled, is an Algerian raï singer, musician and songwriter. He began recording in his early teens under the name Cheb Khaled.

Richard Ramirez

1960Richard Ramirez, American serial killer and sex offender (died 2013)[†]

Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez, better known as Richard Ramirez, was an American serial killer and sex offender whose killing spree occurred in Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area in the state of California. From April 1984 to August 1985, Ramirez murdered at least fourteen people during various break-ins, with his crimes usually taking place after dark, leading to him being dubbed the Night Stalker, the Walk-In Killer, and the Valley Intruder. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1989 and died while awaiting execution in 2013.

Tony Robbins

1960Tony Robbins, American author and motivational activist[†]

Anthony Jay Robbins is an American author, coach and motivational speaker. He is known for his seminars, and self-help books including the books Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within.

Notable Deaths

Melvin Purvis

1960Melvin Purvis, American police officer and FBI agent (born 1903)[†]

Melvin Horace Purvis II was an FBI agent instrumental in capturing bank robbers John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd in 1934. All of this would later overshadow his military career which saw him directly involved with General George Patton, Hermann Göring, and the Nuremberg Trials.

Walter Yust

1960Walter Yust, American journalist and author (born 1894)[†]

Walter M. Yust was an American journalist and writer. Yust was the American editor-in-chief of the Encyclopædia Britannica from 1938 to 1960.

Historical Events

1960 Agadir earthquake

1960The 5.7 Mw  Agadir earthquake shakes coastal Morocco with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme), destroying Agadir and leaving 12,000 dead and another 12,000 injured.[†]

The 1960 Agadir earthquake occurred on 29 February at 23:40:18 Western European Time near the city of Agadir, located in western Morocco on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the earthquake's moderate Mw scale magnitude of 5.8, its relatively shallow depth (15.0 km) resulted in strong surface shaking, with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. Between 12,000 and 15,000 people were killed and another 12,000 injured with at least 35,000 people left homeless, making it the most destructive and deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history. Particularly hard hit were Founty, the Kasbah, Yachech/Ihchach and the Talborjt area. The earthquake's shallow focus, close proximity to the port city of Agadir, and unsatisfactory construction methods were all reasons declared by earthquake engineers and seismologists as to why it was so destructive.

Historical Context for February 29, 1960

In 1960, the world population was approximately 3,015,470,894 people[†]