On 6 December 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbour: the Imo and the Mont Blanc. He was carrying ammunition for the war. A fire develops on board, then the building drifts towards a pier in the Richmond area.
For about twenty minutes, the fire can be observed from the surroundings. Curious people are attracted to the show. According to Parks Canada, only a handful of officials then know the dangerous nature of the cargo. Those present do not see the same situation as those with this information.
At 9:04 a.m., the ship exploded. The blast, debris and a wave devastate part of the harbour. Broken windows cause many eye injuries. The event goes far beyond the initial maritime accident and upsets nearby neighborhoods.
The aid comes from Boston. The most troubling is the time before the explosion: many saw the fire without knowing the extent of the danger.
What we know
The duration and the place are historical; no scenes or words of witness are invented.
To go to the source
References accessed October 11, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
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