7 Most Puzzling Mass Vanishings in History That Are Still Unsolved!

There have been various instances of people who have ceased to exist and that too throughout history. No wonder that disappearing forever without any explanation is spooky.

The more horrifying thing about these instances is it’s not happened with a person or two but with a large group of people. Yes, completely bizarre!

Really! Some of the most perplexing disappearances of history were related to mass vanishings that seem to have wiped out and swallowed up whole towns. Well, in some cases hundreds or even thousands of souls, all of which remain gone and with few clues of what became of them.

But then the question arises that what endures after these stories and what forces may have been at work to make masses of people disappear or out of existence? We are listing some of the major striking mysterious mass disappearances in history, in which a large number of people seem to have almost dissipated into thin air.

So, let’s read about this bizarre & chilling cases of mass disappearances which have left profound mysteries and puzzles behind.

1. The Nina: 2013

Source = Caymanislandsdiscounts

This one is a very recent incident of all! The yacht Nina was 85 years old when it seemingly vanished into thin air in summer 2013. Winning a “New York to Spain” race only a month after being launched, the yacht had a proud and storied history. Further, the vessel was owned by David Dyche in 2013. He intended to bring his prized boat from New Zealand to Newcastle, Australia.

At the end of May 2013, Dyche and his crew began their journey. But, till today,  Nina did not arrive at its destination. At first, people thought that the wet and windy weather was responsible for the delay but after several days of hoping authorities of New Zealand launched the largest maritime search in the history of the country. However, all missions failed, even after the intense efforts to locate the Nina and her crew. Hence, it can be said that the once-prized boat is still officially missing.

The most interesting and worth noting thing about the whole instance is the location of the disappearance. The area is called as the Bass Strait Triangle, a stretch of water which has “claimed” many ships after written records of the region began.

2. The Australian Ghost Ship Mystery: 2007

Source = Mtdata

The “Australian ghost ship mystery,” as the fate of the catamaran Kaz II became known, is very recent as it unfolded before the world’s eyes. Even though this disappearance features only three people, it is worth including here because of the chilling details of its surrounding as well as its relative newness of the mystery.

A little way off the coast of Queensland, a drifting helicopter first spotted the 9.8-meter (32 ft) Kaz II. Further, the closer inspection showed that the vessel had been abandoned. There were no other signs of a struggle, although there was some damage to the sail.

It is one of the strangest discoveries as the table had been set already; like the crew was about to sit down to eat. There are more tales which suggest that a laptop was turned on as though someone had been working on it, and the craft’s engine was still running. As a fact, all life jackets remained undisturbed, and all the crew’s possessions were still on board.

However, what happened to the three experienced yachtsmen is not determined by the authorities yet. As part of a plan, either they did rule out “foul play” or a staged disappearance.

3. The Dahlsjo Case: 1965

Source = Historyandotherthingsweb

The events of July 29, 1965, in Gothenburg saw four young men seemingly vanish into thin air. This incident is regarded as the only mass disappearance in Swedish history.

The legend goes as Jan Olof Dahlsjo, Gay Karlsson, and Kjell Ake Johansson were friends who worked together at the shipyards. A rainy morning in July was the last known sighting of the three men as they drove a blue Volvo out of town that day.

There are reports which suggest that the men were missing came at different times from family members. Well, this was one reason that the police were a little slow to connect the disappearance of the three men.

From further investigation, it was found that at least one of them was driving illegally because none of them had a driver’s license. Generally, they were considered as “good guys,” but the young men had occasionally found themselves in trouble for petty crimes.

Apart from them, a fourth person went missing that day in Gothenburg, whether or not there is a connection. That fourth person was Hubner Lundqvist. He went through Gothenburg while traveling to Lysekil. From there, he sent a postcard to  his family  that reads,

“All is well, don’t worry!”

It is theorized that he likely hitched a ride with the three men in the blue Volvo still all we know that it was the last known location of Lundqvist. The meeting of all four was pure chance, or they were already known to him is not known yet. And, the case rests unsolved.

4. The Anjikuni Lake Incident:1930

Source = Kykyryzo

Somewhere in 1930, fur trapper Joe Labelle came across an Inuit settlement near Anjikuni Lake in Nunavut, Canada while seeking to rest for a night. After reaching there, he saw that there was no trace of the community, although the fire was burning beneath a pot with scorched food inside.

Moreover, he witnessed that each hut there contained each resident’s possessions. Even the community’s fish and food supplies were full and untouched. At that time, it seemed like the entire village had just woken up and left at a moment’s notice. The most unlikely thing about that incident is it seemed as if someone left without taking their clothes, community food supply, and weapons. After seeing all that, Labelle informed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) from the nearest telegraph office. In response to that telegraph, some mounties started their journey towards Anjikuni Lake.

While going to the lake, the Mounties stopped for refreshments at the home of Armand Laurent, a local trapper. Armand told the mounties that a few days earlier, a strange, gleaming object had flown over his property from the direction of Anjikuni Lake.

Further, the RCMP confirmed that it was completely abandoned, upon arriving at the Inuit village. Additionally, they saw that on the edge of the settlement, graves were present; all broken open and even empty as in without their respective bodies. Another bizarre fact about the place is that on each side of those graves, the stone markers were neatly placed in two piles.

Well, despite two investigations by the Canadian authorities in the early 1930s, the case remains unsolved.

5. The Village of Hoer Verde: 1923

Source = Coolinterestingstuff

Around 600 residents of the small Brazilian village of Hoer Verde vanished overnight in February 1923. The entire village left their possessions and food behind. A small group of visitors ventured into the town and made the unsettling discovery there. While researching into the small community, it became apparent that no one was there. There was a chilling silence in the town; there were no birds or no insects even.

That group of visitors informed the local police and investigated further. Even, the police didn’t find any sign of anyone and no clues as to where the residents might have gone. The police saw one message on a blackboard, upon entering the village school-

“There is no salvation!”

However, a gun was discovered nearby, and on the investigation, it was found that it had been fired within the previous 24 hours.

However, many theories or legends are popular about the place that the fate of the villagers revolves around the paranormal or alien activity. Another legend goes as changing the political landscape of Brazil at the time may force the residents to leave the area, as they didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire of guerrilla warfare.

However, any of the theories didn’t prove why they all suddenly left, even without taking their clothing and food supplies. There is still no information about the villagers emerging in other Brazilian communities. Hence there is a possibility that they had changed locations. But nothing is proved yet.

6. Roanoke Colony: 1587

Source = Imgur

The colony which was established at Roanoke Island was one of the first by settlers from England in modern-day North Carolina. However, John White, the governor of the colony, and his crew discovered that the entire settlement had been deserted after returning from a supply trip to Europe.

Only the word “CROATOAN” is etched into a tree along with a lone skeleton remained in the area. Several legends suggest that the settlers fell victim to the Croatoan tribe who lived just south of the Roanoke colony. And, as an indication of who was responsible for the mass disappearance, the word may have been hastily left.

There are some more theories popular in its relation like their Governor White returned after a delay of three years; hence, they thought their governor had abandoned them. Therefore, the settlers head back to Europe. But this idea followed the thought that the settlers perished in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, as they found nowhere.

7. The Lost Civilization of the Indus Valley:1500 BC

Source = Thebetterindia

We can not say that sudden disappearance is the reason behind the vanish of Indus Valley Civilization because some people believe that a targeted nuclear strike is to blame.

Around the ruins of the ancient cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, the sites of these attacks center are now modern-day Pakistan. Based on some ancient writings such as the Mahabharata, these sites were once the home of a great Indus Valley Civilization that rivaled those of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt.

According to some investigations of the site, it is found that they have intricate drainage and sewer systems, systems for drinking water, and brick baths. Moreover, it is found that over 40 skeletons were scattered there. The way they were positioned suggested a sudden end.

David Davenport, a British researcher, researched one of the sites and also studied the ancient writings for over a decade. While researching there, he found the presence of the fusing of materials and the evidence of radiation; all such findings somehow suggest a sudden, intense exposure to blistering heat. Based on his research, he concluded that an intentional nuclear strike had caused an explosion that wiped out the Indus Valley Civilization.

Final Thoughts

Well, these stories raise many questions like- Could any of these incidents possibly be that bizarre? Are we ever going to know what happened to these forgotten souls? Have these incidents even happened, or is it all just spooky superstition wrapped into history?

While we may never have the answers to these questions, but it is surely frightening to think that at times, this world could open up and swallow us off the face of the earth even without leaving a trace.

Horrifying it is!