Halifax, N.S., Canada December 6, 1917 Explosion
Painting depicting the Halifax Explosion Disaster, December 6, 1917. Unknown artist.
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Today 104 years ago, on December 6, 1917, the Halifax Explosion Disaster took place in Nova Scotia, Canada, the largest man-made explosion before the invention of the nuclear bomb, claiming the lives of at least 1,782 people.
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Halifax is the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, Halifax became the North American naval base of operations for the British Royal Navy, and all neutral ships bound for North America were required to report at Halifax for inspection.
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The Norwegian cargo ship SS Imo had arrived in the Bedford Basin in Halifax on December 3, 1917, en route to New York to carry relief supplies headed for Belgium. The SS Imo were to leave Halifax on December 5, but was delayed due to fueling arriving later than expected.
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At 7:30 AM on December 6, the SS Imo departed and travelled well above the harbour's speed limit to make up for lost time. Entering the Bedford Basin at the same time was the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc, fully loaded with explosives TNT and highly flammable benzol. The crew on the SS Mont-Blanc spotted the SS Imo in the Bedford Basin when they were just 1,21 km apart.
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Miscommunication between the two ships resulted in the SS Imo colliding with the SS Mont-Blanc, albeit at slow speed, at 8:45 AM. Although the SS Mont-Blanc wasn't severely damaged, the collision toppled barrels of benzol which flooded its deck. When the engines of SS Imo engines kicked in again sparks were created inside the hull of the SS Mont-Blanc, igniting the benzol.
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An uncontrollable fire was set loose aboard the SS Mont-Blanc, and the crews abandoned their ships, knowing the SS Mont-Blanc would explode at any second. The crews frantically and desperately tried to warn onlooking Halifax residents on the coasts, but could not be heard above the noise and confusion.
In Album: Stephen Craig's Timeline Photos
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