10 Moments That Caused the Whole World to PANIC

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at historical moments that caused widespread fear and panic.

Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” (1938)

This infamous example of mass hysteria might be slightly exaggerated, but it’s too classic to exclude. The Halloween radio broadcast of “The Mercury Theatre on the Air” featured an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ science fiction novel “The War of the Worlds,” narrated by Orson Welles. The story was adapted in a news broadcast style, giving the impression to some listeners that Martian aliens were actually invading earth. With global tensions rising in the lead up to World War II, it’s understandable that some anxious listeners, having missed the introductory disclaimer of the program’s fictional content, would panic and call the radio station and local police en masse. The following day brought newspaper coverage of the incident, but it’s up to you whether you believe the anecdotal stories they reported.

Y2K (2000)

To those too young to remember the turn of the millennium, Y2K might refer to a vintage-inspired clothing trend. But to those of us a little older, it’s a reminder of an uncertain time that had many in a panic. Why? Because computers represented years using only the last two digits, leaving many to fear mass computer errors if “00” was interpreted as 1900 instead of 2000. Fearing the glitch might affect infrastructure in a disastrous way, many spent their New Year’s Eves stocking up on emergency supplies and hunkering down at home. This fear was thankfully unfounded as only a few minor errors actually occurred, like a $7,000 late fee for a video rental that showed as 100 years overdue.

Yellow Fever (18th-19th Centuries)

Considered one of the most dangerous diseases of the 18th and 19th centuries, yellow fever swept through the Americas, Africa, and Europe throughout several epidemic periods. Notably deadly outbreaks included Shreveport, Louisiana in 1873 when 1,200 people lost their lives over 80 days, and an 1878 outbreak in the Mississippi River Valley that killed 20,000. Understandably, an outbreak of yellow fever was enough to make any community panic, but the panic was magnified by the uncertainty surrounding the disease. Without an understanding of how the disease was spread, it seemed impossible to slow infections. Thankfully, further research has led to a greater knowledge of the disease, and a vaccine was developed in the 1930s that is still in use today.

Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004)

When a 9.2 magnitude undersea earthquake struck the Indian Ocean, no one could have prevented the devastation that would follow. The earthquake caused a massive tsunami, with waves as high as 100 feet striking the shores of 14 countries, killing over 200,000 people. The tragedy was especially devastating due to the lack of tsunami warning systems in place. The victims were caught completely by surprise. Though some populations recognized the signs of an imminent tsunami and evacuated safely, far too many had to experience the terrifying sight described by some witnesses as a “black giant” and a “wall of water.”

Chernobyl (1986)

In 1986, a disastrous explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union released harmful radioactive material into the atmosphere that spread across much of Europe. Within hours, individuals in nearby cities began to fall ill, but it wasn’t until the radiation set off alarms hundreds of miles away in Sweden that the USSR admitted that the accident had occurred. The scale of the disaster and the delayed announcement caused the millions of affected people across Europe to worry about the potential risks to public health and the environment. The disaster was speculated to cause widespread deaths and birth defects, but thankfully, the impact on public health, while still significant, was much smaller than anticipated.

The AIDS Epidemic (1980s-90s)

In the early 1980s, an illness began spreading in the United States that was first noticed in LGBTQ communities. AIDS, a life-threatening condition caused by HIV, killed millions of people in the 1980s and 90s when the epidemic was at its height, with gay men being the population most devastatingly affected. Public fears and panic surrounding the illness triggered widespread stigmatization, isolation, and marginalization of LGBTQ populations. Though today there are advanced treatments for HIV and we have a better public understanding of the illness, the epidemic at its height was a time of tragic loss for the LGBTQ community that increased homophobic incidents and severely hampered civil rights efforts.

COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-23)

One hundred years after another viral pandemic brought the world to a halt, we got a new one. The COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in early 2020, triggered lockdowns that kept most of us confined to our homes and glued to our screens. Uncertainty about the disease early in the pandemic resulted in misinformation that spread rapidly across social media, with some promoting dangerous and harmful “advice” to millions. As the pandemic dragged on, we knew more but grew increasingly tired of quarantines, resulting in further pushback and outrage from the public against government restrictions. We’re still evaluating all the ways COVID has affected our lives, but the pandemic’s wide reach ensured no individual was left untouched by the global panic.

The Black Death (1346-53)

The Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague, caused tens of millions of deaths, and may have killed half the population of Europe at the time. Very little was known at the time about the disease’s origins and methods of transmission, but poor hygiene practices ensured the plague’s broad disastrous effects. Scholars at the time stated the disease was caused by the alignment of planets, or sent by God to punish non-believers and reward the faithful. The fear and uncertainty surrounding the Black Death caused many to seriously reckon with their spiritual beliefs, which some scholars say helped trigger the Renaissance in Italy.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

When Soviet missiles aimed at the United States were discovered in Cuba, what followed was the most tension-filled, near-disastrous 13 days in American history. Maps demonstrating the missiles’ range showed nearly all of the United States in the affected zone, causing fear and panic in the American public that a Soviet attack was imminent. Tense negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in a compromise that satisfied both parties and removed the offending weapons, inspiring a breath of relief in the American people. Though it nearly escalated into a full-scale nuclear war, the negotiations of the Cuban Missile Crisis led to more effective communication between the White House and the Kremlin in order to prevent similar crises from occurring in the future.

September 11th (2001)

In 2001, the world watched in horror as the United States experienced the most deadly terrorist attack in history. Four planes hijacked by members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda crashed into both World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, resulting in thousands of lives lost. The attacks were broadcast live around the world to millions of shocked viewers, prompting fears of subsequent attacks across the United States and the world. Since the devastating attacks, there has been a lasting heightened sense of fear surrounding terrorism in the United States. The shock of the incident and impact on the public ensured this event will not be forgotten in the eyes of the American people.

It’s understandable that incidents like these would inspire strong reactions. Do you agree with our list? Share your thoughts in the comments.