An Indonesian ferry sinks off the northern tip of Sumatra, drowning more than 100 people.
President of Sierra Leone Valentine Strasser is deposed by the chief of defence, Julius Maada Bio. Bio promises to restore power following elections scheduled for February.
The ''North Cape'' Oil Spill occurs as an engine fire forces the tugboat "Scandia" ashore on Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The ''North Cape'' Barge is pulled along with it and leaks 820,000 gallons of home heating oil.
