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Canada's History › Key Events
What is the significance of the Halifax Explosion of 1917?
- An industrial explosion that led to major safety reforms in Canada
- An explosion at a munitions factory that ended Canada's World War I production
- A wartime bombing of Halifax by German submarines
- One of the largest man-made explosions in history before nuclear weapons, caused by a collision of ships in Halifax Harbour
Why this is the correct answer
On 6 December 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbour — a French munitions ship called the Mont-Blanc and the Norwegian vessel Imo. The resulting explosion was one of the largest man-made explosions in history prior to nuclear weapons, killing roughly 2,000 people, injuring thousands more and destroying much of the north end of Halifax. The disaster prompted a major relief effort and led to lasting changes in maritime safety and urban planning.