US EPA

8254682 

Journal Article 

The halifax explosion 

Tsuchiya, Y 

2009 

19 

2 

52-56 

Japanese 

The Halifax Explosion, which occurred in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was one of the largest man-made explosions prior to the nuclear explosion in Hiroshima It occurred on December 6,1917 in Halifax Harbour when the French cargo ship 'Mont Blanc' accidentally collided with a Belgian supply ship. Benzol on the deck of the Mont Blanc spilled and ignited. The crew escaped by boats to the opposite shore while the abandoned fire ship drifted towards Halifax pier. Fire spread to the highly explosive cargo in her holds. Picric acid, TNT and guncotton totalling 2600 tons exploded roughly 20 minutes after the collision amidst fire fighting, rescue and on-looking crowds The explosion devastated a major part of the city, with an estimated 2,000 people killed and 9,000 more injured. Various factors contributed to it, and among them the mixed loading of different classes of dangerous materials may be the most significant.