On this day March 6 1987 the British ferry MS Herald of Free Enterprise tragically capsized near the Belgian port of Zeebrugge just 90 seconds after setting sail. The vessel was carrying 539 passengers and crew when water rushed into the car deck due to the bow doors being left open causing the ship to tip over on its side.
The disaster resulted in the deaths of 193 people making it one of the worst maritime tragedies in modern history. Investigations revealed that a combination of human error and unsafe practices led to the catastrophe prompting changes in ferry safety regulations to prevent similar accidents in the future.
80s insight: The ship capsized so quickly that many passengers were still inside their cabins unaware of the unfolding disaster until it was too late.