Doors and windows were destroyed, and ceiling tiles were shaken loose by the shockwave, severing electrical wires. We had that happen in churches in Halifax,” adds Beed. First responders in both explosions suffered tragic losses. How it compares to other... A mushroom’s plume of smoke swells about an hour after the nuclear bomb exploded over Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. “Here in Halifax, outside the city and in the province, they are not sleeping, they couldn’t eat,” says Father Saikali. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. US Army via Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Beed says the images and videos from Beirut are staggering. mass murder trial hear recordings of accused killer in detention, N.B. Twins in everything, even in the tragedies and good times,” says Saikali. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A mushroom’s plume of smoke swells about an hour after the nuclear bomb exploded over Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. See our, Read a limited number of articles each month, You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads, Unlimited access to washingtonpost.com on any device, Unlimited access to all Washington Post apps, No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking. “Our roots are so deep in Nova Scotia,” says Saikali. Nova Scotia’s Lebanese community is vibrant, with businesses, political and community leaders of Lebanese descent contributing mightily to the province’s historic and cultural fabric -- which means the shock and tragedy of the explosion more than 8000 kilometres away is very raw for many Maritimers. “They survived the Halifax Explosion and they would have had to rebuild their lives, just like the people in Beirut are going to have to rebuild their lives,” says Beed. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. It was the worst act of local terrorism in the history of the United States. The steam explosion and fires from the reactor created a 0.3 kiloton explosion. woman dies in house fire, RCMP investigating, RCMP investigate suspicious fire at Moncton daycare, Navy investigating unexplained breakdown on brand-new Arctic patrol vessel, Regina man captures cars sliding on slippery streets goes viral, Pope voices support for same-sex marriage in documentary, WestJet to refund passengers over cancellations due to virus, Alberta to host rapid COVID-19 testing pilot of international travellers, Feds face new opposition push for deep dive into COVID-19 response, School re-openings have avoided 'catastrophe,' says Ontario doctor, Doctor who sexually assaulted 21 sedated women will serve rest of sentence in community, Manitoba reports deadliest day of COVID-19 pandemic, Local advocates oppose St. Lucia luxury resort with Canadian ties, Indigenous fishers expected to meet with minister, N.S. CTV News Atlantic Reporter, Allan April “You’re seeing people watching the explosion, and they’re waiting for something to happen, and then it happens. Looking at both explosions through the prism of history provides some stunning parallels. An American B-29 bomber during World War II dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The official death toll from the Halifax explosion was 1,963 people. It seems the boat that exploded in Halifax was carrying about 2400 tonnes worth of explosives (Pitric Acid and some other stuff) and leveled the entire port and killed 1600 people. The Halifax government coordinated one of the most miraculous rescue and relief efforts ever conducted, while Beirut’s fails to provide reliable garbage pick-up, electricity or potable water.