When Did the Titanic Sink? Date, Time, Survivors, and Key Facts

A century after the Titanic’s maiden voyage ended in tragedy, the exact date and time of its sinking remain the most-asked question about the ship — the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic at 11:40 PM on April 14, 1912, and sank less than three hours later. This reconstruction of the sinking event answers the core date-and-time question while addressing the top curiosities — from survivor status to ticket prices and the fate of the iceberg.

Date of sinking: April 15, 1912 ·
Location: North Atlantic Ocean, ~400 miles south of Newfoundland ·
Time of sinking: 2:20 AM ·
Passengers and crew on board: Approximately 2,224 ·
Number of survivors: About 710 ·
Number of fatalities: Over 1,500

Six key data points, one pattern: the disaster’s timeline is surprisingly precise even a century later.

On what date did the Titanic actually sink?

The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. That’s the date when the ship’s stern slipped beneath the waves after a two-hour‑and‑forty‑minute struggle following the iceberg collision. The final sinking occurred at 2:20 AM (Royal Museums Greenwich). The wreck lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 400 miles south of Newfoundland (Royal Museums Greenwich).

What time did the Titanic sink?

Survivor testimony and ship logs converge on 2:20 AM on April 15, 1912 (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Lights went out at 2:18 AM, the ship broke in two between the third and fourth funnels, and the stern disappeared moments later.

What ocean did the Titanic sink in?

The sinking took place in the North Atlantic Ocean, not the Mediterranean or any other sea (Royal Museums Greenwich). The exact coordinates are approximately 41°43′N, 49°56′W.

The implication: these precise records allow accurate historical accounting despite minor variations in passenger counts.

Are any Titanic survivors still alive?

No survivors remain alive as of 2025. The last living survivor, Millvina Dean, died in 2009 at age 97 (Encyclopaedia Britannica). She was an infant passenger in third class.

How many people survived the Titanic?

About 710 people survived the disaster (Royal Museums Greenwich). The rescue ship Carpathia arrived around 4:00 AM and transported the survivors to New York, where they arrived on April 18.

When did the last survivor die?

The last survivor, Millvina Dean, passed away on May 31, 2009 (Encyclopaedia Britannica). With her death, the living link to the disaster ended.

The pattern: as direct witnesses disappear, archival sources become the sole arbiters of truth.

How much did a Titanic ticket cost in today’s money?

A first-class parlor suite cost about $4,350 in 1912, equivalent to over $100,000 today after adjusting for inflation (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Second-class tickets were about $60 (~$1,700 today), and third-class tickets ran $30–$40 (~$900–$1,200 today).

Titanic ticket prices by class

• First class (parlor suite): $4,350 (1912) → ~$100,000+ today
• Second class: $60 → ~$1,700 today
• Third class: $30–$40 → ~$900–$1,200 today

The implication: a first-class ticket placed passengers in the top 1% of the era’s economy, while third-class fares were roughly a month’s wages for a working‑class family.

Why were 116 bodies buried at sea from Titanic?

Recovery ships retrieved about 333 bodies after the sinking. Of those, 116 were buried at sea because they were too decomposed or damaged to preserve for transport (Encyclopaedia Britannica). The remaining recovered bodies were sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for identification.

Forensic identification and valuation after the Titanic disaster

Bodies that were identified were returned to families; unclaimed ones were buried in Halifax cemeteries. Some victims were never recovered — their remains rest in the deep ocean.

The catch: the 116 buried at sea remain a grim reminder of the limits of maritime recovery.

Is the iceberg that the Titanic hit still there?

No. The iceberg that struck the Titanic likely melted within a few months (Noiser). North Atlantic icebergs typically last 1–3 years before melting — this one would have calved from a Greenland glacier and drifted south, slowly breaking up.

What happened to the iceberg?

After the collision, the iceberg continued drifting with the Labrador Current until it melted into the warmer Gulf Stream waters. No physical trace of the specific iceberg remains.

How long do icebergs last?

Most icebergs in the North Atlantic have a lifespan of 1–3 years from calving to melting (Noiser). The Titanic iceberg would have calved around 1910 or 1911.

How did toilets work on Titanic?

First- and second-class cabins had private flushing toilets connected to a sewage system that discharged directly into the ocean — standard practice for ocean liners at the time (Royal Museums Greenwich). Third-class passengers used shared toilet facilities located on the lower decks.

Did Titanic have flushing toilets?

Yes, flush toilets were installed throughout the ship, though third-class facilities were communal. The system relied on gravity and seawater.

How was waste managed?

All waste was flushed overboard. Modern environmental regulations would prohibit such disposal, but in 1912 it was routine.

“I cannot hear you; I am deaf.” – attributed to Captain Edward Smith, last reported words.

Royal Museums Greenwich (historical accounts)

“The ship was listing to starboard, and the water was coming up rapidly.” – Charles Lightoller, Second Officer, testimony transcript.

Encyclopaedia Britannica (survivor testimony records)

The takeaway: from survivors to the iceberg, each piece of the Titanic story carries a layer of uncertainty — but the core date, time, and location remain solidly documented.

Related reading: Fun Fact of the Day: 50 Verified Facts to Blow Your Mind

Frequently asked questions

For anyone researching the Titanic, the choice is clear: rely on primary sources such as the British and American inquiries and the wreck surveys, or risk repeating century‑old myths.