Halifax Explosion of 1917

• On 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the waters of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the resulting explosion killed 1,782 people.

• The blast was the largest human-made explosion of its time, and the pressure wave snapped trees, bent iron rails, demolished buildings, grounded vessels, and scattered fragments for kilometers.

• Relief efforts began almost immediately and hospitals quickly became full.

• The initial judicial inquiry found Mont-Blanc to be responsible for the disaster, but a later appeal determined that both vessels were to blame.

• In the North End, there are several memorials to the victims of the explosion.

• The harbour was enlarged to accommodate the influx of military personnel and supplies needed to support the war effort.

• The city of Halifax grew to accommodate the influx of people and military supplies.

• The success of German U-boat attacks on ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean led the Allies to institute a convoy system to reduce losses.

• The harbour was re-named Halifax/Dartmouth in 1915 and management fell under the control of the Royal Canadian Navy.

• In 1917, there was a growing naval fleet in Halifax, including patrol ships, tugboats, and minesweepers.

• The population of Halifax/Dartmouth had increased to between 60,000 and 65,000 people by 1917.

• The harbour was closed to all shipping except for military and commercial vessels carrying dangerous cargo on 6 December 1917.

• The collision and fire of the SS Imo led to the death of more than 400 people.

• The collision between the cargo ship Mont-Blanc and the ferry Imo occurred at 8:45am on 6 December 1917.

• The Mont-Blanc was carrying benzol, which quickly caught fire and caused the ship to drift towards the pier.

• The captain of Stella Maris, Horatio H. Brannen, ordered his ship to tow the barges and steamed back to the pier to douse the fire.

• The tug's captain and his crew saved the ship from exploding.

• On board the Mont Blanc, a fire set off explosives, which destroyed the ship and killed all but one of the 26 men on board.

• The explosion was felt as far away as Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island.

• Hundreds of people were blinded by the blast wave.

• Overturned stoves and lamps started fires throughout Halifax, particularly in the North End.

• The death toll could have been much higher if it weren't for the quick actions of the crew of the Niobe and the Highflyer.

Test your knowledge about the devastating Halifax Explosion of 1917, which resulted from the collision of the SS Mont-Blanc with the SS Imo, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Explore the events, aftermath, and historical impact of this tragic maritime disaster.