▁Dublin , ▁Ireland ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁hours ▁k ills ▁ 4 8 ▁people ▁and ▁inj ures ▁ 2 1 4 . ▁ ▁Australia ▁withdraw s ▁recognition ▁of ▁the ▁Pol ▁Pot ▁regime ▁in ▁Camb odia . ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 7 – 2 2 ▁– ▁Pope ▁John ▁Paul ▁II ▁vis its ▁the ▁Philippines . ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 3 ▁– ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁Spanish ▁coup ▁d ' état ▁attempt ▁(" 2 3 - F " ): ▁Antonio ▁Te j ero , ▁with ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Guard ia ▁Civil , ▁enters ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Congress ▁of ▁Deput ies ▁and ▁stops ▁the ▁session ▁where ▁Leopold o ▁Cal vo - S ot elo ▁is ▁about ▁to ▁be ▁named ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁government . ▁The ▁coup ▁fails ▁following ▁its ▁den oun cement ▁by ▁King ▁Juan ▁Carlos . ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 4 ▁– ▁A ▁powerful , ▁ ▁magnitude ▁earth qu ake ▁hits ▁Ath ens , ▁killing ▁ 2 2 ▁people , ▁inj uring ▁ 4 0 0 ▁people ▁and ▁destroy ing ▁several ▁buildings ▁and ▁ 4 , 0 0 0 ▁houses , ▁mostly ▁in ▁Cor inth ▁and ▁the ▁nearby ▁towns ▁of ▁L out ra ki , ▁Ki ato ▁and ▁X y lo k astro . ▁ ▁March ▁▁ ▁March ▁ 1 ▁– ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁Irish ▁hung er ▁strike : ▁Bobby ▁S ands , ▁a ▁Pro vis ional ▁Irish ▁Republican ▁Army ▁member , ▁begins ▁a ▁hung er ▁strike ▁for ▁political ▁status ▁at ▁H M ▁Pr ison ▁Maz e ▁( Long ▁K esh ) ▁in ▁Northern