Panic and confusion reigned as passengers scrambled for lifeboats. Many lifeboats were launched under capacity due to a combination of disbelief, disorganization, and social class divisions. First-class passengers were often given priority access, while third-class passengers faced barriers and delays.

The ship's band famously continued to play music in an attempt to calm passengers as the disaster unfolded. As water poured into the lower decks, the bow began to sink, and the stern rose higher out of the water. Eventually, the ship broke apart, with the bow and stern sinking separately.

At around 2:20 a.m. on April 15, the Titanic disappeared beneath the icy Atlantic waves, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,500 people out of the approximately 2,224 onboard. It remains one of the deadliest commercial peacetime maritime disasters in history.

Rescue and Aftermath

The nearby ship RMS Carpathia, responding to Titanic’s distress signals, arrived about two hours after the sinking and rescued the survivors in lifeboats. The survivors were taken to New York City, where the tragedy became a global news sensation.

Investigations in both the United States and Britain followed, scrutinizing the ship’s design, safety protocols, and the decisions made by the captain and crew. The inquiries revealed numerous failures: inadequate lifeboats, ignored iceberg warnings, excessive speed, and lack of emergency preparedness. shutdown123