On This Day: May 21st

The Greenfield tornado kills five and injures 35 across rural Iowa, United States. Wind speeds in excess of 480 kilometres per hour (300 mph) are estimated from measurements for the third time in history.

A stabbing spree on the Green line of the Taichung MRT injures four people, including the perpetrator.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus perform their final show at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Random killings occur on the Bannan Line of the Taipei MRT, killing four and injuring 24.

A bus accident near Himara, Albania kills 13 people and injures 21 others.

A suicide bombing kills more than 120 people in Sanaa, Yemen.

Radio broadcaster Harold Camping predicted that the world would end on this date.

JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launches the solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS aboard an H-IIA rocket. The vessel would make a Venus flyby late in the year.

The Republic of Montenegro holds a referendum proposing independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; 55% of Montenegrins vote for independence.

The tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.