India executes a series of nuclear weapons tests. The detonations raised fears of a nuclear conflict in the area and sparked international protests. On May 13, 1998, India officially declared itself a nuclear power.

ValuJet flight 592 crashes into the Florida Everglades shortly after takeoff. All 110 people on board lost their lives in the crash that was caused by a fire in the cargo compartment.

56 football fans die in a stadium fire. During a match against Lincoln City, the wooden stands at Valley Parade football ground went up in flames. The exits were locked. A burning cigarette thrown into a waste bin has been determined as the probable cause of the disaster.

The musical Cats is premiered. The piece sparked a musical craze around the world and catapulted the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber to stardom.