Dealing with mass death after a community catastrophe: handling bodies after the 1917 Halifax explosion

Abstract

The literature available on how communities deal with mass death, in particular body handling procedures, is sparse. Describes the actions of the various people involved in the immediate aftermath of the Halifax (Nova Scotia) 1917 explosion. Also, but in less detail, examples the Rapid City flood, the Gander air crash, the Zeebrugge ferry disaster, the Tangsham earthquake, the Texas City explosion and the Kobe earthquake. Highlights the problems of handling bodies after a mass fatality incident: respect accorded to the dead individual; whether skilled individuals are there to take on the tasks, the tagging and identification procedures required and the setting up of temporary morgue facilities.

Citation

Scanlon, J. (1998), "Dealing with mass death after a community catastrophe: handling bodies after the 1917 Halifax explosion", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 288-304. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653569810230139